An Evaluation of Parent and Child Perceptions About Pediatric Pedestrian Safety Skills

Casie H. Morgan; Lindsay M. Stager; Cierra Hopkins Smith; Leslie A. McClure; Angelina R. Davis; Anna Johnston; Jiabin Shen; Yixin Wang; David C. Schwebel

doi:10.1007/s10566-026-09971-y

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An Evaluation of Parent and Child Perceptions About Pediatric Pedestrian Safety Skills

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

An Evaluation of Parent and Child Perceptions About Pediatric Pedestrian Safety Skills

Casie H. Morgan, Lindsay M. Stager, Cierra Hopkins Smith, Leslie A. McClure, Angelina R. Davis, Anna Johnston, Jiabin Shen, Yixin Wang and David C. Schwebel

Child & youth care forum

08/12/2026

DOI: 10.1007/s10566-026-09971-y

PMCID: PMC13544160

PMID: 42699685

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Abstract

Background Pediatric pedestrian injury is a major public health concern. Children’s perceived abilities correlate with behavior across many pediatric behavioral health contexts, but this association is untested regarding pedestrian safety. Objective If children’s perceptions relate to behavior in pedestrian settings, there are implications for targeted intervention. We evaluated associations between parent and child perceptions of children’s street-crossing ability with actual abilities within a virtual reality (VR) pedestrian platform. Methods As part of a larger clinical trial, 497 children aged 7–8 years participated in baseline pedestrian skill assessments and subsequent virtual reality training sessions. Training terminated when children achieved adult competency. Outcomes included baseline unsafe crossings and number of visits to reach adult competency. Baseline perceptions of children’s ability were assessed via parent and child self-report. Linear regression models were completed for each outcome, with parent perception, child perception, child age, and child sex as predictors. Results The first linear regression demonstrated significant associations between baseline unsafe crossings and both parent perception of real-world crossings (β=-0.10771, p<.05) and child age (β=-0.18288, p<.01). A second linear regression examining the number of training visits required to achieve adult competency also identified significant associations between parent perception of real-world crossings (β=-0.13499, p<.01) and child age (β=-0.13927, p<.01). Conclusions Parents’ perceptions of children’s abilities are significantly associated with children’s pedestrian skills, whereas children’s own perceptions show less consistent and non‑significant associations. Prioritizing youth voices alongside educating parents about pedestrian safety risks may offer complementary and effective strategies to support children to become safe, active pedestrians.

Unintentional injury

Safety

Children

Perception

Pedestrian injury risk

Details

Title: Subtitle: An Evaluation of Parent and Child Perceptions About Pediatric Pedestrian Safety Skills
Creators: Casie H. Morgan - Medical University of South Carolina
Lindsay M. Stager - Brown University
Cierra Hopkins Smith
Leslie A. McClure - Saint Louis University
Angelina R. Davis - University of Massachusetts Lowell
Anna Johnston - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Jiabin Shen - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Yixin Wang - University of Alabama at Birmingham
David C. Schwebel - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Child & youth care forum
DOI: 10.1007/s10566-026-09971-y
PMID: 42699685
PMCID: PMC13544160
NLM abbreviation: Child Youth Care Forum
ISSN: 1053-1890
eISSN: 1573-3319
Publisher: Springer Nature
Grant note: Medical University of South Carolina
Open access funding provided by the Carolinas Consortium.
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 08/12/2026
Academic Unit: Research Administration; Psychological and Brain Sciences
Record Identifier: 9985219327702771

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