Predictors of Risk Perceptions of Childhood Injury among Parents of Preschoolers

Abstract

This article assesses the relationship between parents' perceived risk of childhood injuries and familial, sociocultural, and situational variables. Data were obtained through a random digit dial telephone survey of 1,200 households with a preschool child in a southeastern metropolitan area. Perceived risks of childhood injury measures were based on social science theory and childhood injury epidemiology. Multiple item measures included dimensions of seriousness and likelihood for both injuries and hazards. When risk perceptions were viewed as individual items, parents underestimated the risk of some hazards and injuries and overestimated the risks of others, and parents whose children have sustained a recent injury had higher risk perception overall. When risk perceptions were viewed as summed scales, sociodemographic variables and parental safety behaviors were not significant predictors. Sociocultural factors of having a child previously injured, the parent reporting stress, having a household with self-reported risk factors, and the perception of the child as active and hard to manage are related to summed scales of risk perceptions, with some interactions by race of the parent. Findings illustrate the role of situational and sociocultural characteristics of respondents in risk perception research.

Law enforcement officers ' risk perceptions toward on-duty motor-vehicle events

“…Research has demonstrated that an individual’s experience with workplace injuries helps to shape their perception of risk and in turn, response to specific workplace hazards (Nelkin and Brown, 1984; Wiegman et al ., 1991; Cree and Kelloway, 1997; Rundmo, 1995). Generally, people with a history of specific injuries score higher on perceived risk measures of those injury events recurring (Watzke and Smith, 1994; Glik et al ., 1991; Rundmo, 1995; Tversky and Kahneman, 1973). In our study, the impact of prior MVEs was specific to motor-vehicle risk perception; occurrence of prior MVEs did not significantly impact intentional violence risk perception scores.…”

Once bitten, twice shy? Medically-attended injuries can sensitise parents to children’s risk of injuries on playgrounds

“…Having a child experience a medically attended injury led to parents having a greater perception of children’s vulnerability to injury30 and recognition of the potential severity of these injuries, along with increased worry about injury when their child engaged in risky playground behaviours. Moreover, these effects were not limited to the behaviour that led specifically to their child’s injury, but applied to a broad range of risky play behaviours.…”

Babywalkers: prevalence of use and relationship with other safety practices

“…The questionnaire used, wherever possible, questions validated in previous studies. 19 20 The questions on perceived risk of injury had two dimensions: perceived likelihood of an injury occurring and the perceived seriousness of an injury. The questions on perceived risk associated with hazards, also had two dimensions: perceived likelihood of an injury involving a hazard and perceived degree of danger associated with the hazard.…”

“…Scales for perceptions of the risk of injury and of hazards were calculated by the method described by Glik and colleagues. 19 Cronbach's coeYcient was calculated to assess internal consistency of these scales. 21 For the scale for perceived risk of injury it was 0.77, and for perceived risk of hazard it was 0.85.…”