title: Factors influencing the use of booster seats: a state-wide survey of parents.
abstract: This study used telephone interview data on booster seat use from a state-wide probability sample of parents with children ages 4-8-years-old who were living in Michigan. Interviews were completed with parents of children in 350 households. Analyses examined the entire sample, and three sub-groups: always users, part-time booster seat users, and booster seat non-users. Results indicated that booster seat legislation was a key determinant of the level of use and the motivation to use booster seats. Nearly 70% of part-time users said that they used booster seats because they believed it was the law. Similarly, 60% of part-time and non-booster seat users said that they would be more likely to use booster seats if use were mandated by law, with non-users being 3.5 times more likely than part-time users to agree that a law would increase their booster seat use. Finally, over 90% of part-time and non-booster seat users said it would be easier for them to use booster seats if a law required it, and non-users were almost six times more likely than part-time users to agree that a law would make use easier. The need for booster seat laws, issues of social equity, and implications for intervention were discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, 2901 Baxter Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2150, USA. rbingham@umich.edu
authors.forename: C Raymond
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Eby
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hockanson
authors.forename: Arlene I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Greenspan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015370:Infant Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010290:Parents; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors