Prediction of Seat Belt Use Behavior among Adolescents Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

Background: road traffic injuries (rtis) are the important causes of unintentional injuries anddeaths. in this respect, seat belt wearing is an influential factor in reducing the mortality and severity of road traffic injuries. the rate of seat belt use among is lower adolescents, compared to adults. the present study aimed to investigate the influential factors on seat belt-wearing behavior among adolescent students as car occupants based on the theory of planned behavior (tpb).study design: a cross-sectional design.methods: this study was conducted among 952 adolescent students studying in grades 7, 8, and9 in the schools of tabriz, iran, in the 2019-20 academic year. a researcher-made questionnairewas designed based on tpb for data collection, the validity and reliability of which have beenconfirmed.results: the results indicated that the rate of seat belt use in the front seat inside the city waslower than that outside the city. regarding tpb constructs, perceived behavioral control (β=0.137;95% ci: 0.006, 0.013; p<0.001), subjective norm (β=0.313; 95% ci: 0.021, 0.032; p<0.001), andattitude (β=0.322; 95% ci: 0.034, 0.053; p<0.001) had a significant and positive relationship withthe intention of seat belt-wearing behavior. moreover, the behavioral intention (β=0.571; 95% ci:0.62, 0.64; p<0.001) had a significantly positive relationship with seat belt-wearing behavior.conclusion: the theory of planned behavior is appropriate to determine predictor factors of seatbelt-wearing behavior among adolescent students as car occupants. in addition, the results of thepresent study may provide a theoretical basis for policy-making to improve adolescent students'seat belt use.