Parental modelling of cycling for children: Demographic and socioeconomic determinants

Abstract

Aim This study aimed to investigate the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of bicycle ownership by parents, and positive parental modelling of cycling for children in New South Wales, Australia. Methods This was a randomised population-based cross-sectional telephone survey of parents residing within the metropolitan areas of NSW. Results A random sample of 1278 parents with children aged 4–12 years who owned a bicycle was recruited. Nearly 40 per cent (n=500) of the interviewed parents owned a bicycle themselves and 217 (17%) respondents reported to exhibit positive modelling behaviour. Results suggested that male respondents were two and a half times more likely to own a bicycle than females (OR=2.5, 95%CI=1.9–3.4). Parents from an English speaking background were about two times more likely to own a bicycle than their non-English speaking counterparts (OR=2.4, 95%CI=1.7–3.5). In comparison to parents with lower education levels, parents with higher eduction levels were nearly two times more likely to own a bicycle, with an odds of 1.7 (95%CI=1.2–2.2) for parents with certificates or diplomas and an odds of 1.6 (95%CI=1.2–2.1) for parents with university or higher levels. In terms of positive modelling of cycling, male parents were nearly two times more likely to go riding with their children compared with females (OR=1.7, 95%CI = 1.1–2.5). Parents with children aged 7–9 years were nearly two and a half times more likely to exhibit parental modelling as compared with parents of the youngest age group (OR=2.4, 95%CI = 1.5–3.7). Conclusion The findings indicate that parents of young children 4–6 years old, particularly mothers, should be encouraged to demonstrate more positive modelling behaviour in cycling.