Factors Affecting Helmet Use for Pillion Children on Electric Bicycles

Many parents in China tend to use electric bicycles as a means of transporting their children to and from school. However, it is concerning that the proportion of children on the pillion wearing helmets is relatively low. To ensure children’s safety, it is crucial to explore how psychological factors influence guardians’ behavioral intention to ensure that their children wear helmets on the pillion. This study, based on an extended theory of planned behavior framework and utilizing structural equation modeling, aims to analyze how psychological factors shape guardians’ intentions to have their children wear helmets. We successfully collected 505 valid samples through offline surveys. The findings reveal that psychological factors significantly influence guardians’ behavioral intentions to ensure helmet use. Among these factors, the perceived strictness of law enforcement emerges as the most influential determinant (β = 0.292), followed closely by subjective norms (β = 0.278) and attitude (β = 0.189). Additionally, risk severity perception (β = 0.193); probability, β = 0.128) and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.153) also play statistically significant but comparatively smaller roles in shaping behavioral intentions. This study identifies key psychological factors influencing parental intentions, including attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, risk perception, and the strictness of law enforcement. Recommendations include strengthening law enforcement, enhancing public awareness through education, and fostering supportive social norms. These efforts aim to more effectively ensure children’s safety.