PERSONAL GOALS AS MOTIVATORS: PREDICTING BICYCLE HELMET USE IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The purpose of this study was to examine motivation goals predicting bicycle helmet use by university students. Helmets can prevent or reduce head trauma; consequently, if the motivation behind helmet use is understood, students can be taught that helmet wearing can fulfill multiple personal goals. Students from three Midwestern universities completed a 44-item survey comprised of eight goal subscales, including safety, positive self evaluations, social responsibility, bodily sensations, self determination, individuality, resource acquisition, and material gain. Thirteen demographic/background items were part of the survey as well. One in five students categorized themselves as helmet wearers. Helmet wearers reported achieving significantly more personal goals by wearing helmets than nonwearers. Students most likely to wear helmets were significantly more likely to personally know someone who had been in a cycling accident and had significantly more friends who wore helmets. Helmet wearing did not differ by personal accident history, sex, race, year in school, or riding frequency. Evidence reveals that motivation for a behavior is strongest when the behavior achieves multiple personal goals. This investigation supports this motivational model and suggests that if adolescents are taught how wearing helmets achieves many personal goals, more students may wear helmets.

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  • Corporate Authors:

    Elsevier Science, Incorporated

    660 White Plains Road
    Tarrytown, NY  United States  10591-5153
  • Authors:
    • Everett, S A
    • Price, J H
    • Bergin, D A
    • Groves, B W
  • Publication Date: 1996

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00719304
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: HS-042 070
  • Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI
  • Created Date: Mar 20 1996 12:00AM