Children's Perceptions Of Risk Research Articles

Effects of disaster education on children's risk perception and preparedness: A quasi‐experimental longitudinal study

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of a disaster education intervention on children's risk perception and preparedness. It also sought to advance longitudinal studies, during an 18‐month time period, of risk perception and preparedness by using a quasi‐experimental methodology in child‐centred disaster research. This study used a quasi‐experimental longitudinal research design to measure the effects of disaster education on children. These effects were examined on children's risk perception and preparedness in the Van and Kocaeli provinces of Türkiye during the 18‐month period, with a sample of 720 school children. Experimental and control groups were randomly allocated, controlling for age, school grade and school enrolment. The disaster education intervention was designed to improve the children's awareness of natural hazards and their knowledge of disaster risk reduction using discussion, visual materials and interactive teaching of emergency management. The results indicate that the disaster education intervention had a positive effect on children's risk perception and perceived importance of preparedness in both study locations. It also helped children to understand the risks and hazards in their living environments. More importantly, this study showed that disaster education enhanced the protective measures taken by children for disasters. This is the first study using the quasi‐experimental longitudinal research design to measure the effects of disaster education on children's risk perception and the importance of preparedness. The findings are of relevance for organisations such as government departments and non‐government organisations when designing or improving disaster education programmes.

Analysis of the Fourth Vaccination Intention of the Elderly for COVID-19 Based on RPA Theory

With the open management of the epidemic in China, the first wave of the epidemic has passed, and the safety and health of the elderly have become a key concern in the face of the uncertain epidemic situation in the future. This study was conducted to analyze whether children would give their elderly family members a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, in addition to the third dose of the vaccine, in view of the fact that the elderly may have underlying diseases and their body functions are aging. This study uses the Risk Perception Attitude (RPA) framework to analyze not only the impression and credibility of the children in the family, but also the children's risk perception and self-efficacy and, thus, their willingness to allow their parents to receive the vaccine. Based on the questionnaire of "Elderly people receiving the fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine" in 2023, four seven-level scales were developed for each of the four variables, and the data were collected and analyzed for reliability and validity, and regression analysis was designed to gauge the behavior of the children in determining whether or not to vaccinate the elderly in their families under the influence of information media. It was found that media impression was deeply and positively related to risk perception and self-efficacy; media credibility was also profoundly and positively related to risk perception and self-efficacy; risk perception and self-efficacy had a significant effect on the final behavioral outcome.

Perception of risk among children: Exploring the risk of TB-rickettsial disease based on the children's drawing pictures in a Mayan community of Yucatan.

It is important to work on designs of health promotion strategies that involve educational interventions about the risk factors associated to TB-rickettsiosis (Tick-Borne rickettsiosis). Children's drawings provide a window into their thoughts and feelings. The aim was to analyze children's risk perceptions regarding by the presence of ticks in a rural community in southeast Mexico. The main framework used was a social cognitive perspective under the Health Belief Model. Study was carried out in rural elementary schools and included a drawing contest. A total of 224 children (8-12 years old) participated. Drawings were coded and classified; descriptive trend analysis was performed using counts and percentages. The qualitative data was analyzed by researcher experts in TB- rickettsiosis and using Atlas ti V.8. Results are presented in seven categories that consider environmental elements, actors, and cognitive aspects. The environmental context, 99.1% of the drawings represent sites outside the home (92% include vegetation with the presence of ticks in their immediate external environment). In the actors' category, 69.6% included people carrying out activities (prevention and risk). As for the cognitive aspects, 70% included domestic pets and 13.4% farmyards animals. The children expressed their ideas about risk factors and preventive measures against TB-rickettsiosis with a self-care approach. They acquired knowledge about preventive strategies and clinical symptoms. It is necessary to evaluate what happens after an intervention and how they implement in their lives what they have learned.

Children's disaster knowledge, risk perceptions, and preparedness: A cross-country comparison in Nepal and Turkey.

While children are one of the groups at risk in disasters, they can also take an active part in disaster management, provided that the opportunity is given. This research examined the effect of disaster experience, disaster education, country, and city socioeconomic status on children's perceived risk and preparedness with a survey of 1335 children between 11 and 14 years old, in Nepal and Turkey. The survey used questionnaires and the pictorial representation of illness and self measure (PRISM) tool. Results showed that (1) children's risk perceptions were in line with their country-specific objective risks; (2) there were differences between the countries in relation to perception of risk for all the hazards except wildfire; (3) socioeconomic status had a statistically significant effect on children's perceptions of risk and preparedness for earthquakes, wildfires, that is, children who live in wealthier places had higher perceived risk and preparedness; (4) children in both countries showed similar trends in their knowledge of the correct protective actions to take in the event of a hazard occurrence. However, there is still room to enhance children's knowledge, in terms of safety behaviors, as the children selected many incorrect protective actions. There are important implications in terms of child-centered disaster management which hopefully will make life safer and help to create more resilience to disaster in society as a whole.

The effect of parenting styles on children’s risk perception on roads

Although there is evidence of a significant impact of the family on children's safety and risky behaviors, few studies have examined this issue in detail. Children under the age of 10, although they rarely participate in traffic completely independently, are a vulnerable population from a traffic safety perspective. In addition to the number of children who die in incidents, some of them suffer from lifelong disabilities. Besides various educational methods and making safe school zones, there is a need to pay attention to the impact of parents on children's understanding of traffic safety. In this study, the effect of parent on children's perception of safety and danger on roads is investigated. For this purpose, through an interview, children aged 6-9 years were asked to identify 11 unsafe traffic behaviors. Parenting styles and demographic information were collected from their parents through a questionnaire. The results showed that children's risk perception is related to age, gender, and socio-economic status. In addition, children's ability to perceive risk is associated with negative parenting styles (corporal punishment and poor monitoring). The results of this study highlight the effects of parents' education on children's awareness of road safety. The importance of parenting styles and other factors affecting children's understanding of traffic risks should be informed to families. It is also important to establish the necessary infrastructure to increase children's safety by promoting parenting skills through beneficial policies and holding training workshops for parents.

Children's perceptions of flood risk and preparedness: A study after the May 2018 flooding in Golcuk, Turkey

Understanding children's risk perceptions and investigating the underlying factors are fundamental to learning more about how children interpret and respond to flood events. To date, there has been no published research about the flood risk perceptions of children in Turkey. This research aims to fill that gap, seeking a better understanding of children's flood risk perceptions to inform efforts to strengthen their resilience to flooding. We examined how flood experience shapes Turkish children's perceptions of flood risk and their level of preparedness. Children aged 11 to 14 years were surveyed, in six schools of Golcuk city, Turkey, before and after a local flood event that occurred on 27th May 2018. This research applied a mixed-method approach that collected and analysed both quantitative and qualitative data, using the Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure (PRISM) methodology to measure risk perception and preparedness. The research results show that there was no statistically significant difference in children's flood risk perception before and after the local flood event. However, the importance that children placed on preparedness increased after the flood event. The flood preparedness level of the children surveyed indicates that Turkish children have insufficient knowledge of effective flood preparedness activities: there is an urgent need to make them better prepared for floods. Our findings have implications for policy, especially for those living in flood risk areas. Catastrophic flood events are expected to increase because of climate change, so it is becoming increasingly important to understand the causes of flood risk better, how people perceive flood risk, and how they will respond to flood events. Therefore, flood management policies should incorporate the knowledge, skills, and capacities of children into disaster risk reduction strategies, aiming to reduce the impacts of future flood events.

Children's earthquake preparedness and risk perception: A comparative study of two cities in Turkey, using a modified PRISM approach

Understanding children's risk perception and investigating the underlying factors are important aspects of examining how children interpret and respond to earthquake events. This research examines children's perceptions of earthquake risk and preparedness level in the Van and Kocaeli provinces of Turkey. A mixed-method approach is used, with questionnaires and interviews, as well as the Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure (PRISM) technique. The results show that the majority of the school children did not attend disaster education programs, even if they were living in an area of high seismic risk. The sampled children were generally aware of the earthquake risk in their home area. However, their levels of preparedness were low. A consistent relationship was found between: (1) earthquake risk perception, (2) earthquake awareness, (3) factual knowledge of preparedness, (4) importance of preparedness, and (5) earthquake education programs. The results indicate that children who participated in earthquake education programs had higher earthquake awareness, foresee future earthquake occurrence and the potential causes of injury. Also highlighted was the importance of information sharing within families, as a factor influencing children's earthquake risk perception and preparedness. The results are considered of value for actors in the disaster risk reduction sector. They provide perception insights to improve the communication and dissemination of information about earthquake risk.

The role of environmental smoking in smoking-related cognitions and susceptibility to smoking in never-smoking 9–12 year-old children

Environmental smoking has numerous adverse effects on child health, and children are frequently exposed to environmental smoking. In the present study, we investigated the role of environmental smoking (parental smoking, sibling smoking, peer smoking) in smoking-related cognitions (pros of smoking, perceived safety of casual smoking, cue-triggered wanting to smoke) and susceptibility to smoking among 9–12year old never-smoking children (N=778). We collected cross-sectional survey data from children attending 15 Dutch primary schools. Using structural equation modelling, we assessed direct as well as indirect relationships among study variables. The results showed that children who were exposed to more smoking parents, siblings, and peers perceived more pros of smoking. Additionally, parental smoking was associated with higher perceived safety of casual smoking and more cue-triggered wanting to smoke. In turn, perceiving a higher safety of casual smoking and more cue-triggered wanting to smoke were associated with a higher susceptibility to smoking in children. No direct effects of environmental smoking on children's susceptibility to smoking were found. However, parental smoking was associated with children's susceptibility to smoking through children's perceived safety of casual smoking and cue-triggered wanting to smoke. The present study indicates that pre-adolescents may already display favourable smoking-related cognitions and that these cognitions may be an early indicator of a child's vulnerability to smoking. Environmental smoking, particularly parental smoking, is associated with more favourable smoking-related cognitions in never-smoking children. In the intergenerational transmission of smoking from parents to children, children's risk perceptions of smoking and the experience of cue-triggered wanting to smoke may constitute mechanisms of action, which need to be investigated in longitudinal research.

Individual differences in children's risk perception and appraisals in outdoor play environments

Child characteristics including age, gender, risk-taking behaviour and sensation seeking are thought to influence children's ability to appraise risks. The present study investigated children's risk perceptions and appraisals in the context of common outdoor physical play activities. Risk perceptions and appraisal of four- and five-year olds were assessed using a pictorial risk appraisal measure and through individual semi-structured interviews examining children's decision-making. Sensation seeking and risk-taking behaviour were assessed using self- and parent-report measures. Results revealed that the children were able to identify injury risk behaviours however differentiating the severity of the potential injury was less accurate. Furthermore, the children appeared to use these judgements in their play to inform their behaviour whilst using playground equipment. Whilst they actively sought out those activities that offered challenge and excitement, they were aware of their abilities and showed caution in engaging in activities that were beyond their current capabilities. The results have implications for the provision of calculated risk-taking in outdoor play and for adult responses to the risk-taking behaviour of children.

A Multimethod Analysis of Risk Perceptions and Health Behaviors in Children

Child and adolescent risky behavior rank high as causes of negative health outcomes for contemporary youths. The main focus of the present investigation was to examine the congruence (convergent validity) among several methods (e.g., self, peer, teacher) of assessing youths' risk propensity and to explore the relation of these measures to self-reported frequency of risky health behavior in a sample of 436 children in elementary and junior high school. Findings indicated low degrees of congruence between the rater sources in their assessments of target subject riskiness. There was a tendency, however, for peers and teachers to agree with each other more than either agreed with self-reports. In addition, several interesting developmental patterns in children's risk perceptions were revealed. Specifically, the efficacy of the various measures' ability to predict risk-taking criterion measures varied depending on whether a risky or preventive behavior was being assessed and on the grade level of the target subject. Theoretical and applied implications of the findings are discussed.