Abstract
In order to assess whether there are common behavioral and environmental factors associated with different types of accidents, we have compared the independent contributors to three types of accident. Accidents needing medical care were reported in a standardized parent questionnaire that provided extensive social data on a representative sample of 11,966 British children.
Simultaneous multiple regressions showed that the following characteristics were independently associated with each type of accident (variables are listed in order of their contribution). Ingestions: child's antisocial behavior, mother's depression, young mothers, part-time work, older siblings, number of moves, full-time work, uncrowded housing; Severe head injuries (e.g., depressed skull fracture): breath holding/fainting, younger siblings, young mothers, number of other accidents; Mild head injuries (e.g., scalp laceration): male sex, mother's depression, young mothers, non-neurotic child behavior, number of moves, part-time work, full-time work; Burns: mother's depression, crowded housing, sleep problems, male sex, low social class, older siblings, short-term hearing problems.
The data suggest that common interpersonal factors exist, as maternal depression and youth are associated with three of four types of accident. However, there are likely to be environmental and social factors that are specific to each type of accident.
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Bijur, P., Golding, J., Butler, N. et al. PREDICTORS OF INGESTIONS, HEAD INJURIES AND BURNS FROM BIRTH TO FIVE. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 101 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00051
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00051