Unintentional injuries. Patterns within families
E. L. Schor
Department of Behavioral Science, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
The occurrence of unintentional injuries is known to be influenced by
physical and socioeconomic environmental factors as well as human behavior.
Questions remain about how personal characteristics interact with the
social, psychological, and physical environment to increase the risk of
injury. The present study investigated the role of families in the injury
experience of individual family members. Health encounter data from 693
families over a six-year period were analyzed. A small number of families
accounted for a disproportionately large number of visits for injuries.
Individual members of families tended to have similar rates of injury, and
these rates were stable over time. Individual accident experience is
influenced by the family to which one belongs. Injury prevention programs
may find increased success by directing intervention strategies toward
families.
