Targeting injury prevention strategies to adolescents of Pacific Islander descent: What will work?

Rebekah Chapman, Dr Lisa Buckley, Prof Mary SheehanPresented by Dr Lisa Buckley

Research summary• Ethnicity rarely considered in injury

prevention program design• Pacific Islander students:

– Less alcohol use– More violence and transport risks/injuries– School connectedness protective factor

• Prevention programs should target school connectedness and focus on violence and vehicle risks

Research background & aim

• Participation in injury risk behaviour varies according to adolescents’ ethnicity

• Aim: to determine patterns of injury & risk behaviour, and risk & protective factors, specific to Pacific Islander students

• Inform appropriate prevention strategies

Methodology

• 875 year 9 students (13-14 years): – 71 identified as Pacific Islander (n=38 male)

• Surveyed during health classes• Survey included scales assessing:

– Injury– Risk taking behaviour– Relationships (parents, peers, school, police)

Results: Injury and risk behaviour

Males Females

Injuries Risk behaviour Injuries Risk behaviour

*Includes driving, passenger and motorcycle injuries/risks

Pacific Islanders Other backgroundVariable B Adj R² B Adj R²

Sex .32 .09 .34 .20 .06 .31

Peer pressure .03 .25 .06 .46**Maternal attachment -.05 -.19 .01 .02

Paternal attachment -.02 -.06 -.01 -.04

School connectedness -.06 -.32* -.02 -.10*Attitudes to police -.07 -.05 -.18 -.15**

Dependent variable: Total risk taking score (violence, vehicle & alcohol)

Results:Risk/protective factors

*p<.05, **p<.001