title: Using Peer Communicated Norms About Safety to Reduce Injury-Risk Behaviors by Children.
abstract: This study examined whether exposure to a safety norm could counteract the increase in risk taking children show when in an elevated positive mood state.
  
  
  
  Risk taking (intentions, behaviors) was measured in a neutral and positive (induced experimentally) mood state. Before completing the tasks in a positive mood, 120 children 7-10 years were exposed to either a safety norm or a control audio.
  
  
  
  The control audio had no effect: children showed an increase in risk taking and intentions when in a positive mood compared with a neutral mood, replicating past research. In contrast, exposure to the safety norm counteracted this effect: children showed a decrease in risk taking and intentions when in a positive mood compared with a neutral mood.
  
  
  
  Manipulating children's exposure to social norms can be an effective strategy for reducing injury-risk behaviors even when they are in an elevated positive mood state.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Guelph, McKinnon Extension, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Morrongiello
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Guelph, McKinnon Extension, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Mackenzie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seasons
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Guelph, McKinnon Extension, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pogrebtsova
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Guelph, McKinnon Extension, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Guelph, McKinnon Extension, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Jayme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feliz
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012449:Safety; D066262:Social Norms; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: children; injury prevention; positive mood; risk taking; social norms