Previous injuries and behavior problems predict children's injuries

Investigated factors related to unintentional injuries in 50 children from summer day camps for economically underprivileged youth. Data were collected on parent reports of children's previous medically treated injuries, Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) scores, and the day camp's incident reports of injuries. One year later, parents completed a second questionnaire about medically and home-treated injuries. Multiple linear regression indicated that previous medically treated injury, ECBI opposition score, and injury at camp accounted for 50% of the variance of medically treated injuries in the year after camp. Previous medically treated injury accounted for 21% of the variance in frequent home-treated injuries during the year after camp. Children who have behavior problems may behave in ways that predispose them to common injuries. Conceptualizing injury as a behavioral process suggests behavior change strategies to reduce injury risk and ways to target children for injury prevention efforts.