Table 1 The psychometric properties and the number of missing responses to items examining children's perceptions of the physical activity environment

The physical environment at home

.89

.80–.94

1

Please tell us about your yard.

We have:

No yard at all

A small yard (eg. a unit)

A medium yard (eg. A normal block of land)

A large yard (eg. 1/4 acre or more)

Kappa (CI)

p

% agreement

# of missing responses/39*

Which of the following do you have in your home, or outside in your yard? (Have at home Y/N)

Outside:

Front fence

.74 (-.13, .29)

.0001

87

0

Swimming pool

.91 (-.10, .26)

.0001

85

0

Trampoline

1.0 (n/a)

.0001

100

0

Basketball ring

.87 (-.10, .25)

.0001

95

0

Covered area outdoors

.13 (-.35, .40)

.37

82

0

Paved area outdoors

.71 (-.17, .36)

.0001

90

0

Sandpits, swings or play equipment

.84 (-.12, .30)

.0001

95

0

Think about the last month. How often did you do the following activities at home? (Have at home Y/N)

Played with bats/racquets/golf clubs

.35 (-.31, .45)

.03

82

2

Played with balls

1.0 (n/a)

.0001

100

2

Rode my bike

.37 (-.43, .63)

.003

92

1

Went rollerblades

.58 (-.20, .36)

.0001

81

2

Rode my skateboard

.68 (-.15, .31)

.0001

84

1

Jumped with my skipping rope

.45 (-.22, .35)

.004

74

0

Rode my scooter

.74 (-.13, .29)

.0001

87

0

Played with toys that I run around with (e.g. frisbees, water pistols)

.06 (-.22, .23)

.59

68

2

Played outside with my pet

1.0 (n/a)

.0001

100

4

The social environment at home

Think about the last month. How often were the following people physically active with you? (Have at home Y/N)

Whole family was active together

.30 (-.27, .36)

.06

69

4

Was active with Father

.23 (-.33, .42)

.20

73

6

Was active with Mother

.58 (-.23, .43)

.0001

86

3

Was active with grandparents

.65 (.21, .42)

.001

85

13

Was active with siblings

.26 (-.45, .59)

.15

87

8

Was active with friends

.53 (-.29, .51)

.002

89

4

Think about the last month. Did a friend or family member offer you encouragement or support to be physically active? (Have at home Y/N)

Received offers to be physically active with a family member

.16 (-.34, .39)

.32

74

4

Received encouragement for physical activity from a family member

1.0 (n/a)

.0001

100

5

Received offers to be physically active with friends

.65 (-.19, .37)

.0001

87

1

Received encouragement for physical activity from friends

.42 (-.23, .36)

.01

71

4

The neighbourhood environment

Kappa (CI)

p

% agreement

# of missing responses/39*

The physical environment in the neighbourhood

Think about the last month. How often did you walk or ride your bike to the following places? (Have at home Y/N)

My friends' houses

.69 (-.19, .38)

.0001

89

1

The post box

.13 (-.35, .41)

.39

83

1

Public transport

-.08 (-.08, .08)

.61

83

3

School

.54 (-.29, .51)

.001

89

1

The shops/milk bar

1.0 (n/a)

.0001

100

2

The lake

.60 (-.18, .33)

.0001

81

2

The golf course

.60 (-.18, .33)

.0001

81

4

Bike/walking tracks or trails

.42 (-.25, .39)

.007

78

2

The local basketball courts

.41 (-.31, .47)

.01

84

1

The local oval

.54 (-.29, .21)

.001

89

3

The local park

.72 (-.23, .49)

.0001

94

3

The local recreation centre

.54 (-.21, .38)

.001

82

1

The local shopping centre

.57 (-.20, .36)

.0001

82

1

The local swimming pool

.51 (-.20, .34)

.001

76

2

The local tennis courts

.43 (-.22, .35)

.003

76

1

Which of the following statements are true about the area you live in? (Have at home Y/N)

Aesthetics – pleasing aesthetics

There are lots of nice houses

.77 (-.18, .42)

.0001

95

2

It's a nice and quiet place to live

.54 (-.28, .50)

.001

89

2

The houses have nice gardens

.53 (-.41, .59)

.001

92

1

Aesthetics – incivilities

There is lots of litter and rubbish

-.03 (-.04, .04)

.87

92

2

There is lots of graffiti

1.0 (n/a)

.0001

100

1

Safety – general

It's easy to walk/cycle around

1.0 (n/a)

.0001

100

3

It's a safe area to walk/cycle

.53 (-.34, .60)

.001

92

2

It's safe to walk/cycle to school

.54 (-.22, .38)

.001

82

1

Safety – traffic/road

The roads are safe

.53 (-.26, .46)

.001

86

3

Feel safe crossing the road

84 (-.17, .43)

.0001

97

1

There is heavy traffic

.53 (-.34, .59)

.001

92

1

Safety – personal

Worried about dogs roaming the streets

1.0 (n/a)

.0001

100

2

Worried about strangers

.53 (-.34, .59)

.001

92

1

Worried about older kids hanging around

-.07 (-.07, .06)

.67

87

1

The social environment in the neighbourhood

Which of the following statements are true about the area you live in? (Have at home Y/N)

I have many friends in my area

.79 (-.14, .32)

.0001

92

1

I have friends who live within a walking or cycling distance from my house

.87 (-.10, .26)

.0001

95

1

I have children living next door or in street who I can play with

.63 (-.18, .35)

.0001

84

2

I know many people in my area

.62 (-.21, .40)

.0001

87

1

There are lots of children around to play with

.38 (-.23, .33)

.01

68

1

I know all of my neighbours quite well

.58 (-.18, .33)

.0001

79

2

I know some of my neighbours quite well

.42 (-.28, .44)

.001

81

3