Age and gender differences in school-age children's appraisals of injury risk

The objective of this study was to examine age and gender differences in children's perception of injury risk and to evaluate cognitive factors that relate to their appraisal of risk. The participants were 120 children (6 to 10 years of age), who used a series of photographs, which depicted play activities that varied from no to high risk, to appraise injury risk. Results showed that children were able to distinguish varying degrees of injury risk. Boys rated risk as lower than girls, and 6-year-old children identified fewer risk factors and did so more slowly than 10-year-old children. For girls, perceived vulnerability to injury was the best predictor of injury risk ratings, whereas for boys it was judged severity of potential injury. In conclusion, children's appraisal of risk and age and gender differences in related factors highlight important components for injury prevention programs.