Open AccessPrediction of Seat Belt Use Behavior among Adolescents Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior
Author(s) -
Fatemeh Malekpour,
Babak Moeini,
Leili Tapak,
Homayoun SadeghiBazargani,
Forouzan Rezapur-Shahkolai
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of research in health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2228-7809
pISSN - 2228-7795
DOI - 10.34172/jrhs.2021.71
Subject(s) - theory of planned behavior , seat belt , injury prevention , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , cross sectional study , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , medicine , psychology , demography , environmental health , engineering , control (management) , management , pathology , sociology , automotive engineering , economics
Background: Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) are the important causes of unintentional injuries and deaths. In this respect, seat belt wearing is an influential factor in reducing the mortality and severity of road traffic injuries. The rate of seat belt use among is lower adolescents, compared to adults. The present study aimed to investigate the influential factors on seat belt-wearing behavior among adolescent students as car occupants based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Study design: A cross-sectional design. Methods: This study was conducted among 952 adolescent students studying in grades 7, 8, and 9 in the schools of Tabriz, Iran, in the 2019-20 academic year. A researcher-made questionnaire was designed based on TPB for data collection, the validity and reliability of which have been confirmed. Results: The results indicated that the rate of seat belt use in the front seat inside the city was lower than that outside the city. Regarding TPB constructs, perceived behavioral control (β=0.137; 95% CI: 0.006, 0.013; P<0.001), subjective norm (β=0.313; 95% CI: 0.021, 0.032; P<0.001), and attitude (β=0.322; 95% CI: 0.034, 0.053; P<0.001) had a significant and positive relationship with the intention of seat belt-wearing behavior. Moreover, the behavioral intention (β=0.571; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.64; P<0.001) had a significantly positive relationship with seat belt-wearing behavior. Conclusion: The Theory of Planned Behavior is appropriate to determine predictor factors of seat belt-wearing behavior among adolescent students as car occupants. In addition, the results of the present study may provide a theoretical basis for policy-making to improve adolescent students' seat belt use.