title: Predictors of bicycle helmet usage among seniors.
abstract: This study identified predictors of bicycle helmet usage in a sample of seniors in Mesa, Arizona. Participants reported: days/week bicycling, usual duration, where biking occurred, helmet ownership, bicycle accidents, injuries, and age and gender. Descriptive, non-parametric statistics, and regression analysis were utilized. Seventy-four females and 123 males completed the survey. The mean age was 70.7(7.2) years. Respondents biked a mean of 4.9(2.3) days per week and averaged 40.5 (32.5) minutes of riding per day. Eighty-two participants (41.6%) owned bicycle helmets and 55 (27.9%) were observed wearing helmets. Eighty-seven (44.2%) participants biked outside their retirement community and 25 (12.7%) reported an accident within the past year. Chi-square (2, N = 197) = 0.66, p = .72) indicated no differences in of male or female helmet usage. Those who rode outside the retirement communities (chi2(2, 197) = 22.6, p = .001) were more likely to wear helmets than counterparts. Logistic regression found age to be a predictor of bicycle helmet usage.
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada-Las Vegas, USA. Tim.Bungum@ccmail.nevada.edu
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bungum
authors.forename: Nicole W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Bungum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001130:Arizona; D001642:Bicycling / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D016852:Housing for the Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012179:Retirement; D013997:Time Factors