Jingzhen Yang ^1*, J. Michael Bowling ¹, Megan A. Lewis ¹, Stephen W. Marshall ¹, Carol W. Runyan ¹, Frederick O. Mueller ¹

¹ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jingzhen-yang{at}uiowa.edu.

	Abstract

Objectives: To describe the use of discretionary protective equipment among high school athletes and examine social and behavioral determinants contributing to usage. Methods: We analyzed data from a three-year (1996 to 1999), stratified, two-stage cluster sample of athletes from 12 organized sports in 100 North Carolina high schools (n = 19,728 athlete-seasons). We used generalized logistic regression to model the association of social and behavioral determinants and demographic variables with discretionary protective equipment use. Results: About one-third of high school athletes self-reported using discretionary protective equipment. Females, seniors, those who played limited contact sports, and those who played multiple sports reported higher usage. Small school size, low player/coach ratio, high proportion of team usage, and a history of previous injury were important predictors of usage. Coaches' experience, qualifications, and training, however, were not predictive of usage. Conclusions: Intervention efforts to promote use of discretionary protective equipment need to target school-level factors and should consider both team requirements and the role of peers in setting and reinforcing norms.

Key Words: Adolescent Health, Injury/Emergency Care/Violence, Prevention

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