Factors Affecting Helmet-Wearing Behaviour of Secondary School Students Who Ride Motorcycles to School in Chawang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

Head injuries from impact during accidents are the primary cause of death among motorcyclists. This cross-sectional survey aimed to 1) assess secondary school students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding helmet use, and 2) identify factors influencing helmet-wearing behavior among students who ride motorcycles to school. The sample included 225 students selected through systematic random sampling. A questionnaire, reviewed by three experts and validated with an Item Objective Congruence (IOC) value ranging from 0.67 to 1.00, was used as the research tool. The knowledge test had a KR-20 value of 0.72, and the attitude and behavior sections had a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.764. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression. The results showed that more than half of the students’ knowledge about accidents and helmet use was at a moderate level (59.72%, = 5.89, S.D. = 1.41). Attitudes towards helmet-wearing were generally high (= 3.74, S.D. = 0.63), while helmet-wearing behavior was moderate (= 3.40, S.D. = 0.50). Significant predictors of helmet-wearing behavior included knowledge about accidents and helmet use (β = 0.147, p-value < 0.001), attitudes towards helmet-wearing (β = 0.190, p-value < 0.001), and helmet ownership (β = 0.260, p-value = 0.004), together accounting for 23.4% of the variance. It is essential to raise awareness among motorcyclists by educating them on traffic laws and the importance of selecting appropriate motorcycle helmets. Relevant agencies should organize activities involving the participation of families, communities, schools, and police stations.