Predicting Unintentional Injuries in Children Based on Inhibitory Control and Impulsivity Concerning Gender

Childhood injuries are a growing global public health problem. Every day, the lives of >2000 families are adversely affected annually by the loss of a child due to an unintentional injury or accidents, i.e., preventable. Once children reach the age of 5 years, unintentional injuries are the most significant threat to their survival. Unintentional injuries are also a major cause of disabilities, which could have a long–lasting impact on all aspects of children’s lives; relationships, learning and playing. Alongside the call for ideal preventative measures, there is, a subsequent obvious and pressing necessity to identify groups more prone to be involved in accidents and at higher risks for injury, compared to their peers. This article investigated behavioral risk factors for pediatric unintentional injury risk, with a particular focus on impulsivity and inhibitory control and the role of gender. 

This was a correlational research. The statistical population of this study was all elementary students of Tabriz City, Iran, in the 2018–2019 academic year. Of them, 140 students (70 boys and 70 girls) were selected as the study sample using a random multistage cluster sampling technique (according to Hu & Bentler Sample Index). The mean age of the investigated girls and boys was 10 years. In the inclusion criteria of the study were the age of 7 to 12 years, no learning disorders, no mental disability, no visual, auditory, or motor impairments, and no medical conditions, such as diabetes, epilepsy, or cardiovascular disease that could influence the research process. The required data were collected using the Minor Injury Severity Scale (MISS) by Peterson, Heiblum, and Saldana (1996); Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) by lejuez (2002), and Continuous Performance Test (CPT) by Rosvold (1956).

The mean calculated values were as follows: for unintentional injuries: girls=26.03, boys=40.03, impulsivity: girls=35.6, boys=37. 5, and inhibitory control: girls=7.8, boys=11.8. The results of the correlation matrix of the explored variables revealed a significant positive relationship between unintentional injuries and impulsivity (r=0.445, p<0.001), unintentional injuries and inhibitory control (r=0.564, p<0.01), as well as impulsivity and inhibitory control (r=0.461, p<0.001). The multivariate regression model was used to explain the combinational relationships of predictor variables (impulsivity, inhibitory control, & gender) with an unintentional injury. Predictive variables (impulsivity, inhibitory control, & gender) had a correlation of about 0.68 with an unintentional injury. According to the coefficient of determination (0.46), these variables could significantly explain 46% of the unintentional injury alternations (p<0.05, F=39.21). In addition, the obtained results indicated that impulsivity could predict 0.24% of unintentional injury changes in the standard unit. Furthermore, inhibition control could significantly predict 0.41% of unintentional injury changes. Besides, gender with a standard beta coefficient of 0.32 could significantly predict 32 units of childrenchr('39')s unintentional injury changes.

The present study findings highlighted that inhibition control was a better predictor for unintentional injury in children. Moreover, gender could predict unintentional injuries in children. In other words, male and female genders facilitated and prevented unintentional injuries in this group, respectively. Finally, impulsivity could positively and significantly predict unintentional injury among children. It is recommended that school–based screening tests be used in children. Besides, children with impulsivity or weaknesses in inhibitory control should be aware of this problem. Accordingly, they should receive appropriate education to prevent unintentional injuries.