Why teenagers owning a bicycle helmet do not use their helmets

Social cognitive determinants of the intention to wear safety gear among adult in-line skaters

“…This poor performance of subjective norm within the extended TPB, according to Ajzen, confirms the importance of "personal consideration" over "perceived social pressure" (Ajzen, 1991, p. 189) in adults' decision making process about safety gear use. Because teenagers are sensitive to peer opinions, previous studies among teenagers have found that positive attitudes toward bicycle helmet-wearing among peers increase a teenager's likelihood of wearing a bicycle helmet (e.g., Lajunen and Räsänen, 2001;O'Callaghan and Nausbaum, 2006). As age increases, skaters may be less concerned about disapproval from others, thereby explaining why the subjective norm may be less important in the adults' decision making about safety gear use than their personal assessment of the usefulness of this health behaviour (i.e., attitude) or their risk of sustaining a severe skating-related injury (Latimer and Martin Ginis, 2005).…”

“…As Ajzen (1991) conceded, the relative importance of any one of the TPB factors varies according to the age of the population studied. Previous studies have found that subjective norm was the strongest predictor of teenagers' likelihood of wearing safety gear (e.g., Lajunen and Räsänen, 2001;O'Callaghan and Nausbaum, 2006). However, in line with the assumptions of Ajzen (1991), it is likely that adult skaters exhibit different operationalizations of the TPB than younger skaters.…”

Helmet Use for the Prevention of Brain Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

“…Adolescents believe their relatives use helmets more frequently than their friends do. The perception that relatives, who are generally adults, take more precautions than young people has been confirmed by other researchers (Bianco et al, 2005;Canada Safety Council, 2006;State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, 2004;Lajunen & Räsänen, 2001) and accident data. This again highlights the excessive risks taken by young people, especially males (Goldenbeld et al, 2008;Hsin-Li & Tsu-Hurng, 2007;Sharma et al, 2007).…”

Inequalities in cycle helmet use: cross sectional survey in schools in deprived areas of Nottingham

“…4 5 Two national (US) telephone surveys found that higher levels of parental education and household income were associated with increased levels of helmet ownership and wearing. 17 18 The two previous UK surveys, 3 16 a recent Finnish survey, 19 and the Seattle Children's Bicycle Helmet Campaign 12 highlighted the importance of friends and parents in influencing helmet wearing. Our study is the first to examine whether these influences on helmet ownership and wearing are related to deprivation.…”