Predictors of distracted walking among Chinese adolescents

IF 3.5 2区工程技术 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, APPLIED

Transportation Research Part F-Traffic Psychology and Behaviour Pub Date : 2025-03-20 DOI:10.1016/j.trf.2025.03.011

Huarong Wang , Yihao Wang , Lulu Mao , Wenjing Liu , Nan Feng , David C. Schwebel

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

To gather self-report data on Chinese adolescents’ engagement in distracted walking behavior, and consider factors that predict distracted walking among those adolescents.

Methods

A total of 955 Chinese junior and senior high school students reported their frequency of distracted walking while using electronic devices, playing with peers, and reading, as well as completing assessments for sensation seeking and traffic safety awareness. We considered differences in distracted walking across genders and grade levels, and then conducted structural equation modeling to examine the predictive effects of sensation seeking and traffic safety awareness on distracted walking, including the mediating role of traffic safety awareness and the moderating role of grade level.

Results

(1) About half of the adolescents (49.8%) reported distraction while walking, with use of electronic devices the most common distracting behavior (35%) followed by playing with a peer (s) (22.8%) and reading (7.7%); (2) The oldest students (grade 10) reported higher rates of electronic distraction while walking than grade 7 or grade 9 students, and boys were significantly more likely to be distracted by playing with peers while walking than girls; (3) Adolescents’ attitudes toward distracted walking were relatively negative; (4) Adolescents had the highest frequency of adverse consequences when walking with electronic distraction, and students in grade 7 suffered higher frequency of adverse consequences than grade 8 or grade 9 students; (5) Adolescents’ disinhibition sensation seeking positively predicted their distracted walking, and traffic safety awareness partially mediated the effect of disinhibition on adolescent walking distraction, with grade moderating the impact of disinhibition on walking distraction.

Conclusions

Distracted walking is common among Chinese adolescents. Electronic device distraction is the most common form of distraction, and playing with peers also occurs frequently. Disinhibition sensation seeking is a significant risk factor for distracted walking behavior, especially among younger adolescents; Traffic safety awareness is an important protective factor for distracted walking behavior.

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来源期刊

Transportation Research Part F-Traffic Psychology and Behaviour Multiple-

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

14.60%

发文量

239

审稿时长

71 days

期刊介绍： Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour focuses on the behavioural and psychological aspects of traffic and transport. The aim of the journal is to enhance theory development, improve the quality of empirical studies and to stimulate the application of research findings in practice. TRF provides a focus and a means of communication for the considerable amount of research activities that are now being carried out in this field. The journal provides a forum for transportation researchers, psychologists, ergonomists, engineers and policy-makers with an interest in traffic and transport psychology.