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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Parental physical activity, safety perceptions and children’s independent mobility

Authors: Maria Paula Santos, Andreia N Pizarro, Jorge Mota, Elisa A Marques

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Parents are likely to be a basic influence on their children's behavior. There is an absence of information about the associations between parents' physical activity and perception of neighborhood environment with children’s independent mobility.
The purpose of this study is to examine the contribution of parental physical activity and perception of neighborhood safety to children’s independent mobility.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study of 354 pupils and their parents, independent mobility, perceptions of neighborhood safety and physical activity were evaluated by questionnaire. Categorical principal components analyses were used to determine the underlying dimensions of both independent mobility and perceptions of neighborhood safety items.

Results

The strongest predictor of independent mobility was the parental perception of sidewalk and street safety (ß = 0.132). Parent’s physical activity was also a significant predictor. The final model accounted for 13.0% of the variance.

Conclusions

Parental perception of neighborhood safety and parents’ self reported physical activity might be associated with children’s independent mobility. Further research in this topic is needed to explore this possible association.
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Metadata
Title
Parental physical activity, safety perceptions and children’s independent mobility
Authors
Maria Paula Santos
Andreia N Pizarro
Jorge Mota
Elisa A Marques
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-584

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