Drivers of booster seat use and non-use among caregivers in the United States.
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| Title: | Drivers of booster seat use and non-use among caregivers in the United States. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Mansfield, Julie A.1 (AUTHOR) Julie.Mansfield@osumc.edu, Baker, Gretchen H.1 (AUTHOR), Herring, Cassandra L.2 (AUTHOR), MacKay, J. Morag2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Safety Research. Jun2026, Vol. 97, p283-306. 24p. |
| Subjects: | Child restraint systems in automobiles, Child car seats, Seat belts, Socioeconomic factors, Caregiver attitudes |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | • Younger children are more likely to be restrained appropriately compared to older children. • 81.7% of seat belt only users had not yet reached the recommended height of 57 in. • Gaps in knowledge persisted for parents of 4–10-year-olds, despite previous attendance at seat checks. • Certain populations might benefit from targeted interventions for specific types of risky behaviors. Introduction: Seat belts and booster seats are effective at reducing the risk of death and injury for pediatric occupants of motor vehicles. The objective of this study was to conduct an online survey of booster seat-aged children to define appropriate versus inappropriate restraint use, identify high-risk behaviors, explore reasons for transitioning to new methods of restraint, and determine whether seat checks or riding with other drivers affects restraint behaviors. Method: A total of 3,026 parents and primary caregivers of children ages 4–10 years in the United States completed an online survey about their child's passenger restraint type, knowledge and usage habits, reasons for using the restraint, and family demographics. Restraint type was categorized as appropriate or inappropriate based on reported child height and weight. Descriptive statistics, multivariable regressions, and chi-square tests were used to identify trends associated with various populations. Results: Restraint types were reported as rear-facing or forward-facing harness restraint (21.0%), booster seat (49.1%), seat belt alone (26.0%), and unrestrained (3.9%). Younger children were significantly more likely to be appropriately restrained and always seated in the rear seat compared to older children. Most "seat belt only" users (81.7%) had not yet reached the recommended height of 57 in.. Non-parent primary caregivers, those of lower socioeconomic levels, and Black Non-Hispanic families were significantly more likely to have children in an inappropriate restraint type. Allowing children to sit in the front row was significantly more likely among parents, especially highly educated males. Attendance at car seat checks was associated with appropriate restraint use, although gaps in booster seat-related knowledge persisted. Conclusion: Many children in the current study transitioned restraint types before meeting the recommended height or weight milestones, especially for the transition from booster to seat belt alone. Practical Applications: This work identifies populations who might benefit from targeted interventions for specific types of risky behaviors. Innovative intervention strategies should be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Safety Research is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 194574386 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Drivers of booster seat use and non-use among caregivers in the United States. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mansfield%2C+Julie+A%2E%22">Mansfield, Julie A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> Julie.Mansfield@osumc.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Baker%2C+Gretchen+H%2E%22">Baker, Gretchen H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Herring%2C+Cassandra+L%2E%22">Herring, Cassandra L.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22MacKay%2C+J%2E+Morag%22">MacKay, J. Morag</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Safety+Research%22">Journal of Safety Research</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 97, p283-306. 24p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+restraint+systems+in+automobiles%22">Child restraint systems in automobiles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+car+seats%22">Child car seats</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seat+belts%22">Seat belts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Socioeconomic+factors%22">Socioeconomic factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Caregiver+attitudes%22">Caregiver attitudes</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: • Younger children are more likely to be restrained appropriately compared to older children. • 81.7% of seat belt only users had not yet reached the recommended height of 57 in. • Gaps in knowledge persisted for parents of 4–10-year-olds, despite previous attendance at seat checks. • Certain populations might benefit from targeted interventions for specific types of risky behaviors. Introduction: Seat belts and booster seats are effective at reducing the risk of death and injury for pediatric occupants of motor vehicles. The objective of this study was to conduct an online survey of booster seat-aged children to define appropriate versus inappropriate restraint use, identify high-risk behaviors, explore reasons for transitioning to new methods of restraint, and determine whether seat checks or riding with other drivers affects restraint behaviors. Method: A total of 3,026 parents and primary caregivers of children ages 4–10 years in the United States completed an online survey about their child's passenger restraint type, knowledge and usage habits, reasons for using the restraint, and family demographics. Restraint type was categorized as appropriate or inappropriate based on reported child height and weight. Descriptive statistics, multivariable regressions, and chi-square tests were used to identify trends associated with various populations. Results: Restraint types were reported as rear-facing or forward-facing harness restraint (21.0%), booster seat (49.1%), seat belt alone (26.0%), and unrestrained (3.9%). Younger children were significantly more likely to be appropriately restrained and always seated in the rear seat compared to older children. Most "seat belt only" users (81.7%) had not yet reached the recommended height of 57 in.. Non-parent primary caregivers, those of lower socioeconomic levels, and Black Non-Hispanic families were significantly more likely to have children in an inappropriate restraint type. Allowing children to sit in the front row was significantly more likely among parents, especially highly educated males. Attendance at car seat checks was associated with appropriate restraint use, although gaps in booster seat-related knowledge persisted. Conclusion: Many children in the current study transitioned restraint types before meeting the recommended height or weight milestones, especially for the transition from booster to seat belt alone. Practical Applications: This work identifies populations who might benefit from targeted interventions for specific types of risky behaviors. Innovative intervention strategies should be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Safety Research is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=194574386 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1016/j.jsr.2026.03.003 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 24 StartPage: 283 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Child restraint systems in automobiles Type: general – SubjectFull: Child car seats Type: general – SubjectFull: Seat belts Type: general – SubjectFull: Socioeconomic factors Type: general – SubjectFull: Caregiver attitudes Type: general – SubjectFull: United States Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Drivers of booster seat use and non-use among caregivers in the United States. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mansfield, Julie A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Baker, Gretchen H. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Herring, Cassandra L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: MacKay, J. Morag IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00224375 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 97 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Safety Research Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
