Test-retest reliability and convergent validity of measures of children's travel behaviours and independent mobility

Introduction Active transportation (AT) and independent mobility (IM) represent promising avenues for increasing children's physical activity and minimizing car use. However, there are limited data on the psychometric properties of measures of AT and IM. Methods 94 child and parent dyads living in Ottawa (Canada) consented to complete a questionnaire twice, approximately two weeks apart, in English or French language. They were questioned on children's travel to/from places (e.g., school, parks, shops) and on the extent of the child's IM. The weekly volume of AT to/from school was calculated by multiplying the number of active trips by the home-school distance. An IM index consisting of six “mobility licenses” (to travel home from school, travel to other places within walking distance, cross main roads, cycle on main roads, go out after dark, and travel on local buses without adult supervision) was computed. Test-retest reliability and convergent validity between children and parents were assessed with Cohen's kappa or intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Results The volume of AT to/from school showed high test-retest reliability and convergent validity in both languages (ICC range=0.81–0.97). Similarly, test-retest reliability was also high for the number of active trips to/from all destinations (ICC range=0.60–0.94) and the IM index (ICC range=0.63–0.88). Convergent validity for trips to/from all destinations was fair in the English language subsample (ICC range=0.22–0.25), but substantial in the French language subsample (ICC range=0.60–0.82). The IM index showed substantial validity at both test and retest and in both languages (ICC range=0.61–0.80). Coefficients were generally lower when examining single destinations or mobility licenses. Conclusion With minor modifications, the child and parent mobility questionnaires can provide valid and reliable estimates of AT to/from a broad range of destinations and IM among English and French speaking grade 4–6 children.