Peer-reviewed article

Children Wearing Bicycle Helmets Influenced by Their Parents’ Safety Perception as Adults and Children

Leena Rashad Baghdadi, Razan A. Alotaibi, Layan A. Aldoukhi, Wafa M Alqahtani, Roaa Alharbi et al. · 11 Feb 2025

Abstract

Purpose: Cycling is a popular activity for children aged 5–14 years and has a notable risk of head injuries. Extensive evidence shows that bicycle helmets can reduce the severity of head injuries and prevent fatalities. The current study examines the prevalence of bicycle helmet use among children (aged 5–17 years) in Saudi Arabia, parents’ attitudes and safety perceptions toward children’s bicycle helmets, and factors that influence parents’ decisions regarding their children’s bicycle helmets. Methods: This study used an analytical cross-sectional design via a validated questionnaire to examine parents’ attitudes toward helmet use for their children (aged 5–17 years) in Saudi Arabia. The study, which was carried out from September 2023 to September 2024, involved 492 participants (69.5% mothers and 30.5% fathers), and they were recruited from all regions of Saudi Arabia. A validated and translated questionnaire was used to assess helmet usage attitudes, considering demographic factors and potential confounders. Results: Approximately 60% of children wear helmets while cycling, despite a high mean attitude score of 5.49 (SD = 0.91), with 93.3% of respondents expressing strong support for mandatory helmet laws. While belief (mean (M) = 5.45) and knowledge (M = 4.63) scores were also high, they did not correlate with actual helmet use. Strong helmet regulations significantly increased usage rates (>80%). Helmet ownership and parental helmet-wearing habits were associated with higher usage among children, with mothers showing greater usage rates for younger children than fathers. Regression analyses indicated that parents who wore helmets as children were 5.85 times more likely to have their children wear helmets and parents who wore helmets themselves were 7.98 times more likely to ensure that their oldest child did so. Conclusions: While parents have positive attitudes toward helmet safety, actual helmet usage among children measures at approximately 60%. Sustainable helmet regulations and parental modeling, especially for parents who wear helmets, are crucial for improving safety.