Implications of Parental Influence on Child/Adolescent Helmet Use in Snow Sports

Abstract

Helmets have become increasingly more important with the advent of extreme snow sports, including skiing and snowboarding. Despite proven benefits, the rate of helmet use is less than ideal. The objective of this study was to describe the factors that influence helmet use among children who participate in skiing and/or snowboarding. Voluntary surveys were distributed to children/adolescents between the ages of 6 and 17 years old (and their parents) at a major Colorado ski resort during the 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 seasons. The survey included questions related to demographics, child/adolescent helmet use, parent helmet use, and reasons for wearing or not wearing a helmet. Logistic regression was used to determine whether parent helmet use, gender, and/or age were related to child helmet use. A total of 206 children/adolescents completed the survey. Fifty one percent of the respondents were male and 49% were female. The proportion of children/adolescents and parents that reported they always wear a helmet was 83% and 53%, respectively. Among children/adolescents, safety was the most frequent reason (87.7%) given for wearing a helmet. The most common reason for not wearing a ski/snowboard helmet was comfort (48.6%). There was a significant relationship between parental helmet use and child helmet use (P < .0001). The odds of a child wearing his/her helmet are 9.5 times higher (95% CI, 3.5-2.8) if their parents wear a helmet than if their parents do not wear a helmet. Gender and age were not significantly (P > .05) related to child helmet use. The results demonstrate the overwhelming influence that parental helmet use has on their child/adolescent's decision to wear a helmet. Physician-based interventions that are targeted at increasing helmet use should focus on educating the parents about both the protective value of the helmet and, equally important, the role-modeling effect helmet use will have on their children.