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Behavioral Science Research

Behavioral scientists at the Center study the pre-event behaviors that are factors for injury, and then develop interventions to increase the adoption of safe behaviors. Work in this area has focused primarily on increasing the use of age- and- size- appropriate child restraints, as well as improving safe driving behaviors among teenagers.

Behavioral research in the post-event phase addresses the emotional impact of injury and trauma. Center researchers have applied this post-event research to develop screening tools to help physicians identify children and parents at risk for acute and longer-term post traumatic stress. This research has also informed the development of fact sheets and workbooks for use by parents and children to help them to manage the psychological stress and avoid long-term emotional consequences.

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Behavioral Science-Focused Programs and Networks

• Child and Adolescent Reaction to Injury and Trauma (CARIT)

  The aftermath of a traumatic injury is a challenging time for most injured children and their families. Through a number of related studies, the CARIT research program is examining the range of responses that children (and their parents) experience after pediatric injury. Our studies have found that psychological distress, such as Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), occurs in significant numbers of injured children and their parents. CARIT studies are increasing our understanding of how traumatic stress symptoms may develop in children and parents, and how to develop screening tools and intervention methods to promote emotional recovery that can be integrated into medical care following injury.

• Identifying Interventions that Promote Child Restraint

  Through research funded by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), Center researchers documented factors that affected the intention to use belt-positioning booster seats for parents of children ages 4-8 years. At the start of the research in 2000, nearly all US families were at-risk for premature graduation of children to from car seats to seat belts. Today, booster seat use in the US has increased significantly, and researchers are seeking to develop interventions that target remaining at-risk populations.

• Youthful Driver Research Initiative (YDRI)

  Children’s Hospital, The University of Pennsylvania, and State Farm, the academic/industry partnership that leads the PCPS study, convened the world’s leading experts on teens, driving and teen driving in the fall of 2005. The result was an evidence-based road map for the exploration of effective interventions to reduce teen driver-related crash and injury risk. Hypothesizing that effective interventions to significantly reduce teen driver crash risk can only be developed with a clear understanding of the beliefs, attitudes, and developmental stages of young drivers, behavioral science is a crucial component of this research initiative. YDRI’s behavioral scientists are intent on developing teen and parent- focused interventions, which will translate into safer driving behaviors and fewer teenage driver-related deaths.