Prediction of Mothers’ Behavior in Preventing Childhood Home Accidents Based on the Protection Motivation Theory

Zakaleh, Fatemeh; Hasani, Laleh; Asadian, Ali; Ghanbarnejad, Amin

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Prediction of Mothers’ Behavior in Preventing Childhood Home Accidents Based on the Protection Motivation Theory

Fatemeh Zakaleh

, Laleh Hasani ^*

, Ali Asadian

, Amin Ghanbarnejad

Abstract: (33 Views)

Background and Objectives: Household accidents are major causes of injury and mortality in children under 6 years. Mothers play a crucial role in prevention. Using Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) as a framework, this study aimed to predict mothers’ preventive behaviors against household accidents.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 266 mothers of children under 6 visiting comprehensive health centers were selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed self-administered questionnaire based on PMT. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression.

Results: Most mothers had a diploma or higher and were homemakers; most fathers had a diploma or higher. The most common preventive behaviors were keeping water sources empty (85.7%) and storing detergents out of children’s reach (79.7%), while the least common were using a car seat (38.7%) and familiarity with first aid (36.8%). Only fathers’ education was significantly associated with preventive behaviors (P=0.010). Self-efficacy showed the strongest positive correlation with preventive behavior (r=0.307, P<0.001) and was the strongest predictor in regression (β=0.378, P<0.001). Other predictors included intrinsic reward (β=0.259, P<0.001), perceived severity (β=0.009, P=0.893), response efficacy (β=0.134, P=0.035), and response costs (β=-0.079, P=0.181). The model explained ~30% of behavior variance (R²≈0.30). The convenience sampling may limit generalizability.

Conclusion: Enhancing mothers’ self-efficacy and reducing barriers can promote preventive behaviors. Educational programs targeting these constructs may reduce household accidents in children.

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Keywords: Protection Motivation Theory – Preventive behaviors – Home accidents – Predictors – Child injuries

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Health Education & Health Promotion
Received: 2025/06/7 | Accepted: 2025/10/25

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