Age and Gender Differences in School-Age Children's Appraisals of Injury Risk

Objective: To examine age and gender differences in children'sperception of injury risk and to evaluate cognitive factorsthat relate to their appraisal of risk. Methods: The participants were 120 children (6 to 10 years ofage), who used a series of photographs, which depicted playactivities that varied from no to high risk, to appraise injuryrisk. Results: Children were able to distinguish varying degrees ofinjury risk. Boys rated risk as lower than girls, and 6-year-oldchildren identified fewer risk factors and did so more slowlythan 10-year-old children. For girls, perceived vulnerabilityto injury was the best predictor of injury risk ratings, whereasfor boys it was judged severity of potential injury. Conclusions: Children's appraisal of risk and age and genderdifferences in related factors highlight important componentsfor injury prevention programs.