Children’s Understanding of No Diving Warning Signs: Implications for Preventing Childhood Injury

Barbara A. Morrongiello, Amanda Cox, Rachel Scott and Sarah E. Sutey
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Barbara A. Morrongiello: Psychology Department, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Amanda Cox: Psychology Department, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Rachel Scott: Psychology Department, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Sarah E. Sutey: Psychology Department, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: The current study examined children’s understanding of No Diving warning signs. Normally-developing 7 to 10 year olds were asked questions to assess their understanding of text, images, and main messages on No Diving warning signs. These structured interviews were audio recorded and responses were later coded. Results revealed that children understood the behavior advised against (diving), why it is prohibited (can hit head on the bottom), and what can happen (serious injury including hospitalization). They understood that breaking your neck results in limitations in mobility and can occur from diving, but they did not anticipate that such an injury is likely to occur. There were no gender and few age differences, but diving experience was associated with children significantly downplaying their risk of injury. The findings suggest that having No Diving warning signs explicitly mention a broken neck, may serve to remind children of this potential consequence at the time of decision making. Active adult supervision is particularly important for children who have prior positive diving experiences.

Keywords: children; unintentional injury; diving; warning signs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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