Objective: To identify predictors of unintentional injury to school-age chi
ldren seen in pediatric primary care.
Methods: Members of a managed health care system (295 children ages 5-11 ye
ars and their mothers) participated. We used Time 1 measures of child, mate
rnal, and family functioning and health care utilization to predict rates o
f unintentional child injury for the following year. Multiple regression an
alyses were performed to identify variables contributing to prospective inj
ury rates.
Results: The final regression model included eight Time 1 variables and acc
ounted for 21% of the variance in Time 2 injury rates. Significant predicto
rs of increased injury liability were younger child age, more children at h
ome, child behavior problems, child social competence, three indices of red
uced child health, and maternal anxiety.
Conclusions: We discuss the utility of these predictors for pediatric psych
ologists in targeting primary care preventive interventions to families at
risk for unintentional child injury.