Understanding the Effects of Household, Psychological, and Environmental Factors on the Scope of Independent Non-School Trips Realized by Walking/Cycling and Public Transport in Young Adolescents (12-15): Evidence from Small Towns and Rural Areas in Japan

抄録

This study aims at investigating the determinants of children’s independent mobility from a range of environmental, psychological, household, and personal levels for the realization of independent walking/cycling and public transport non-school trips in the context of different small towns and rural areas with various size, geographical and physical features. Four hundred and eighty-seven Japanese adolescents of 12-15-year-old and their caregivers participated in the survey. By employing McFadden’s discrete choice models, it was found that realizing walking/cycling and public transport trips were significantly related to perceived levels of independent mobility distance, socio-demographic factors, namely children’s age, caregivers’ occupation/age, number of children/cars per family, and household construct, self-efficacy, social norm/modeling and support, and neighborhood safety. Independent mobility license presented inconsistent associations with such trips. Various geographical/physical contexts showed distinctive associations. This study results can be applied in urban/transport planning to promote independent mobility among children.