Safety behavior among Iowa junior high and high school students

Abstract

The goal of this study was to determine demographic factors associated with reported safety behavior by studying 2250 Iowa junior high and high school students via a self-administered questionnaire. Students attending rural schools used front seat belts and helmets less frequently than urban students. Seat belt and helmet use and swim safety decreased dramatically with age. Occurrences of driving or riding while drunk or high increased with age. Boys were less likely than girls to wear back seat belts and moped helmets and to check water depth before diving. Possession of a driver's license was not independently associated with any of the safety behaviors.