Beliefs about Safe Traffic Behaviors among Male High School Students in Hamadan, Iran: A Qualitative Study Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

Authors

Vahid Ranaei, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences
Alireza Sahab Jahanlu, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences
Laleh Hassani, Mother and Child Welfare Research Center
Ghodratollah Roshanaei, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences
Kristin Haglund, Marquette UniversityFollow
Jagnoor Jagnoor, University of Sydney, Australia
Forouzan Rezapur Shahkolaei, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2022

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

Source Publication

The Qualitative Report

Source ISSN

1052-0147

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.46743/2160-3715/2022.5110

Abstract

Road traffic injuries are public health challenges with heavy economic and social burdens. Road traffic injuries are common in developing countries and occur disproportionately with adolescents. This study aimed to elicit beliefs about traffic behaviors based on the theory of planned behavior among male high school students in Hamadan, Iran. We used a constructivist-interpretive qualitative design with directional content analysis. Interviews were conducted with 19 adolescent males in Hamadan, Iran. Analysis revealed that theory of planned behavior fit well to explain how perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs influenced traffic behaviors. Perceived subjective norms in the forms of parental encouragement, traffic rules and policies, and media advertising influenced the pursuit of safe traffic behaviors. Control belief factors that impeded safe behaviors included aggressive and/or drunk driving and bad road conditions, distance to bridge crossings, and improper seat belt position. Our results provided a deeper understanding of attitudes, experiences, and intentions that precede adolescents’ traffic behaviors. Understanding precursors to behaviors is necessary for effective intervention. Further exploration of factors that lead youth to engage in unsafe behaviors despite education, knowledge, and presence of influential people that promote safe traffic behaviors is needed.

Comments

Published version. The Qualitative Report, Vol. 27, No. 5 (May 1, 2022): 1175-7792. DOI. © 2022 Nova Southeastern University. Used with permission.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Ranaei, Vahid; Sahab Jahanlu, Alireza; Hassani, Laleh; Roshanaei, Ghodratollah; Haglund, Kristin; Jagnoor, Jagnoor; and Rezapur Shahkolaei, Forouzan, "Beliefs about Safe Traffic Behaviors among Male High School Students in Hamadan, Iran: A Qualitative Study Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior" (2022). College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications. 928.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/nursing_fac/928