Purpose: The aim of this presentation is to describe and to analyze the associations between independent mobility (IM) with age groups and by gender in Spanish children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old from 2010 to 2017. Methods: Data were obtained from 11 studies conducted across Spain from 2010-2017. The study sample comprised 3,460 children (6.0-11.9 years old; 50.1% girls) and 1,523 adolescents (12.0-18.0 years old; 50.4% girls). Individual data included age and gender of the participants, and their accompaniment to school. The IM was self-reported in the 11 studies and different questions were used. The answers were categorized into “accompanied by adults” and “independent mobility”. Participants who reported commuting accompanied by a parent, caregiver, and/or neighbor were categorized as accompanied by adults. Participants who reported commuting alone, with friends and/or brothers were categorized as IM. After collapsing studies, age was classified into categorical variables of two-year groups from 6 to 18 years old . Several logistic regressions models were performed to analyze the associations between IM and gender, in children and adolescents, and to analyze the relationships between IM and each age group. An additional analysis was performed to analyze the changes in IM across 2010-2017 using multilevel logistic regression analysis. In order to control the analyses, the population density and city income were used. Results: About 20% of the children and 90% of the adolescents commuted independently (p<0.05). Additionally, in children, boys showed a higher percentage of IM than girls (p<0.01), but no differences by gender were found among adolescents. The rates of IM in Spanish children and adolescents have remained stable during the 2010-2017 period. Conclusions: In the period 2010-2017, this study present higher levels of IM in adolescents than in children, where IM was associated with higher age groups in boys but not in girls. Additionally, the rates of IM in Spanish children and adolescents have remained stable over these years, reflecting the changes in Spanish society of more friendly environment perceptions and gender equality. Future interventions have to focus on children and develop specific strategies for the girl’s inclusion.

Purpose: While children’s independent mobility (CIM) is associated with various benefits (e.g., physical activity) there is evidence of a generational decline in CIM in western countries. It is important to understand how CIM is currently negotiated between children and their parents. Limited qualitative research has explored families’ perspectives on CIM. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine children’s and parents’ perspectives and negotiations of CIM within the family unit.

Methods: A social constructivist approach was adopted, and face-to-face interviews and walk-along interviews were conducted with parents (n=44) and children (10-13 years old) (n=22) respectively in Vancouver, Canada. Families were recruited from 3 distinct neighbourhoods in the Greater Vancouver Area that varied in their physical environments. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was conducted.

Results: Four key preconditions were identified that facilitated negotiation of independent mobility between parents and children within this sample. These included the 1) influence of parents’ childhood experiences regarding their view of CIM (e.g., positive interpretations of their childhood on parenting practices); 2) the role of children’s individual characteristics on their independent mobility (e.g., child’s confidence in their own abilities); 3) family communication as a key coping strategy (parent-parent and parent-child communication); and 4) the influence of positive perceptions of the social environment on CIM.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that CIM flourishes where and when conditions are conducive. Multi-level and multi-sectoral approaches should be considered for addressing CIM. It may be particularly helpful to address individual- (e.g., skill training, confidence), interpersonal- (e.g., communication between parents and children), social- (e.g., perceptions of neighbourhood environment), built environment- (e.g., implementing safety measures like traffic calming), and policy-level factors (e.g., policies addressing factors like substance use harm reduction or supporting CIM behaviours). Efforts to help children gain the appropriate skills and confidence to safely navigate their neighbourhood as well as addressing perceptions of neighbourhood safety through building social connections and capital will be an important step forward.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyse which of the parental factors (i.e., sociodemographic, physical activity (PA) or active commuting to work) can explain the independent mobility to school (IMS) in children and adolescents. Considering that, the parental factors have been previously studied independently but not in combination nor considering their complex interrelations.

Methods: A total of 684 parents (52.8% mothers, 47.2% fathers; 43.4±6.5-year-old) and their offspring (56.4% girls, 43.6% boys; 11.3±2.7-years-old) were included in this study. The parents self-reported their sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., salary/month, highest educational level, socioeconomic level, car availability and distance to work), PA (i.e., ≤ or >150 minutes weekly on moderate to vigorous PA) and mode of commuting to work (i.e., active or passive). The offspring’s mode of commuting to and from school and their accompaniment mode were also reported. T-test and chi-square test were used to study differences by parental gender. Binary logistic regression models (odds ratio=OR) and stepwise analysis were performed to study the associations between the parents’ factors and IMS of their offspring. IMS was established as the dependent variable, and each parent’s factor was included as an independent variable in separate models.

Results: No car availability and less distance to work were positively associated with higher IMS in children (OR=2.22; OR=2.29, respectively). Less mother salary/month (OR=2.75), no car availability (OR=3.17), and mother passive commuting to work (OR=2.61) were positively associated with higher IMS in adolescents. In model 1 of stepwise analysis (sociodemographic factors), the strongest predictor for IMS was no car availability (OR=11.26; CI=1.32–95.85). Less mother’s salary was the main IMS predictor in adolescents (OR=6.18; CI=1.77–21.55). In model 2 (PA and mode of commuting to work) less distance to work and mother’s passive commuting to work, were positively associated with IMS. In model 3 (all factors) distance to work was identified as a predictor in children (OR=2.18; CI=1.10–4.28) and no car availability in adolescents (OR=6.53; CI=2.23–19.08).

Conclusion: Parental sociodemographic factors, such as salary, distance to work and car availability, were associated more strongly with IMS than parental PA and mode of commuting to work.