Tractor-related injuries among youth are an important public health problem. Although tractor safety education for youth is available through 4-H, vocational agriculture classes, and other organizations, this training is not adequately addressing the problem. One important step in developing effective safety education programs is to identify the important influences on youth's decisions to perform safe or unsafe behaviors. This paper investigates the relevance of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) for youth tractor operation. A survey was administered to 350 Ohio youth aged 12 to 16 who currently operate tractors. Reliable, valid measures of PMT constructs were developed based upon a review of the literature, the results of farm youth focus groups, and a pilot test of the draft instrument. Preliminary results suggest that (1) on average, youth do not routinely perform certain safety behaviors (e.g., wearing a seatbelt in a tractor equipped with ROPS; reporting missing shields or other problems with equipment; adjusting seats and mirrors; turning engine off before making repairs or adjustments); (2) even though youth do not typically perceive themselves to be at risk for serious injury, this perception has little influence on the performance (or non-performance) of safe behaviors; and (3) the strongest predictors of performing safe behaviors were self-efficacy, response efficacy (i.e., the belief that performing the behaviors will reduce the risk of injury), and low endorsement of the rewards of unsafe behaviors (e.g., complete chores more quickly, impress friends, have more fun). The implications of these results for tractor safety training will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentations, participants will be able to: (1) Identify important behavioral antecedents for safe tractor operation among youth, and (2) Discuss how these behavioral antecedents can guide the development of effective tractor safety education
Keywords: Youth at Work, Injury Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.