Correlates of changes in children's independent mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic: a Canadian national longitudinal study

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dc.contributor.authorRoy, Sudipta
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences
dc.contributor.supervisorLarouche, Richard
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-31T19:48:05Z
dc.date.available2025-07-31T19:48:05Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.description.abstractChildren's independent mobility (CIM) is linked to higher physical activity in cross-sectional research, but studies describing factors influencing changes in CIM are lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the social-ecological correlates of changes in CIM and whether correlates differ by gender. Every six months between December 2020 and 2021, Canadian parents of 7- to 12-year-olds (n=2291 at baseline) were surveyed to assess mobility licenses (children's permission to do certain activities independently). Linear regression models adjusted for child age, gender, and household income were conducted. Average CIM increased (0.65±1.30 licenses) throughout the follow-up period. Boys experienced a smaller increase in CIM compared to girls (β: -0.60; 95%CI: -1.13, -0.06). Child age (β: 0.08; 95%CI: 0.03, 0.14) and each unit increase in the parental Tolerance of Risk in Play Scale (β: 0.02; 95%CI: 0.00, 0.04) were associated with increased CIM whereas parental crime safety concerns (β: -0.19; 95%CI: -0.37, -0.02) were negatively associated. Children whose parents were neither employed full-time nor homemakers had lower CIM than those of full-time working parents (β: -0.40; 95%CI: -0.74, -0.06). Child gender interacted with parent employment: boys whose parent did not work full-time had a greater increase in CIM (β: 0.52; 95%CI: 0.08, 0.95). In gender-stratified models, boys with a disability (β: 0.49; 95%CI: 0.08, 0.89) and from middle- vs. high-income households (β: 0.34; 95%CI: 0.05, 0.63) had greater increases in CIM. Findings show that correlates of changes in CIM span multiple levels of influence, and these correlates differ significantly between boys and girls, highlighting the importance of examining gender-specific factors when examining changes in CIM. Future interventions to increase CIM could target modifiable variables, including parental risk tolerance and perceived crime safety.
dc.embargoNo
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/7099
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyHealth Sciences
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences)
dc.subjectchildren's independent mobility
dc.subjectphysical activity
dc.subjectsocial-ecological correlates
dc.subject.lcshDissertations, Academic
dc.subject.lcshAutonomy in children--Canada--Longitudinal studies
dc.subject.lcshAutonomy in children--Research--Canada
dc.subject.lcshParents--Attitudes--Research--Canada
dc.subject.lcshParental influences--Research--Canada
dc.subject.lcshParents--Canada--Attitudes--Longitudinal studies
dc.subject.lcshParental influences--Canada--Longitudinal studies
dc.subject.lcshCOVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2023--Canada--Influence--Longitudinal studies
dc.subject.lcshBoys--Recreation--Canada--Longitudinal studies
dc.subject.lcshBoys--Recreation--Research--Canada
dc.subject.lcshGirls--Recreation--Canada--Longitudinal studies
dc.subject.lcshGirls--Recreation--Research--Canada
dc.titleCorrelates of changes in children's independent mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic: a Canadian national longitudinal study
dc.typeThesis
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