Psychological Determinants of Seatbelt Use Among Front-Seat Passengers on Urban Roads in Iran: An Application of the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior

Given the significance of using seatbelts in preventing fatalities in accidents, more studies are required to detect the predictors of seatbelt use.

This study aimed to specify the constructs of the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict seatbelt use in front-seat passengers in urban trips.

In this cross-sectional study, 328 front passengers of urban roads, who were residing in Bushehr during March-May 2018, were selected using multistage, stratified cluster random sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire addressing demographic variables, TPB constructs and intention, and seatbelt use questions was used to collect data. Chi-squared test, ANOVA, multiple linear regression, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 22.

In this study, 28.7% (n = 94) of the participants did not use seatbelts as front-seat passenger, 27.7% (n = 91), and 43.6% (n = 143) used seatbelt for the sake of law enforcement and personal safety, respectively. The predictors of using seatbelts for law enforcement were experiential attitude (P < 0.001, Exp (B) = 1.25), self-efficacy (P = 0.001, Exp (B) =1.21), and instrumental attitude (P = 0.006, Exp (B) =0.89). The predictors of using seatbelts for personal safety were intention (P = 0.001, Exp (B) = 1.26), experiential attitude (P < 0.001, Exp (B) =1.25), self-efficacy (P < 0.001, Exp (B) =1.24), and instrumental attitude (P < 0.001, Exp (B) =0.84). The only predictor of wearing seatbelts for personal safety versus wearing seatbelts for law enforcement was descriptive norm (P < 0.001, Exp (B) = 1.16).

The seatbelt comfort is an important factor in wearing seatbelts. Moreover, since the intention was not the predictor of seatbelt wearing in seatbelt users for law enforcement; therefore, these users are less likely to continue such a behavior.