Predictors of parents’ use of child restraint systems: Evidence from China

Abstract

Objective

Child restraint systems (CRS) can significantly lower the chance of child harm and death. Despite the benefit of CRS, their use in developing countries is low. Therefore, examining the factors that affect parents’ use of CRS is essential.

Methods

In this study, the associations of demographic characteristics and the exogenous constructs in the health belief model (HBM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with parents’ CRS use were investigated with structural equation modeling.

Results

Demographic factors alone explained 23.1% of the variance in CRS use. The model’s explanatory power increased greatly when exogenous constructs were incorporated from the HBM and TPB. Having a college degree, knowledge about CRS, perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and attitude significantly impacted parents’ use of CRS.

Conclusions

The use of CRS in China is still low. Much effort should be done to increase the use of CRS in China, including education, and publicity.

Keywords:

• Child restraint system
• knowledge of CRS
• psychological factors
• structural equation modeling

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are available and may be shared upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [52062039] and the Program for Young Talents of Science and Technology in Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region [NJYT23061].