Rural adolescent attitudes and use of bicycle helmets in Iowa

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Bicycle-related head injuries are a leading cause of fatalities in youth.
• Helmet use is a critical factor in reducing head injuries.
• Understanding helmet use patterns and attitudes in rural adolescents is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine bicycle helmet usage among rural adolescents.
• To assess adolescent attitudes towards helmet use.
• To identify demographic factors associated with helmet use and attitudes.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous surveys were administered to 2022 Iowa Future Farmers of America (FFA) Leadership Conference attendees.
• Data analysis included descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression using R.
• The study sample comprised 1,331 adolescents aged 13-18 years.

Main Results:

• Only 13% of adolescents reported always or mostly wearing a helmet, while 74% rarely or never wore one.
• Adolescents from farms rode bicycles less frequently and ascribed lower importance to helmet use.
• A strict parental rule of "no helmet, no riding" was associated with significantly higher helmet use, greater perceived importance of helmets, and increased support for helmet laws.

Conclusions:

• Bicycle helmet use is infrequent in the rural adolescent population studied.
• Parental rules mandating helmet use are strongly correlated with increased helmet adoption and positive attitudes towards helmet laws.
• Interventions focusing on parental involvement and strict helmet policies may improve adolescent helmet safety.