The role of attentional, cognitive and spatial skills in injury proneness and risk tendency

The objective of the project was to study injury proneness and its main characteristics. A questionnaire was created to analyze this predisposition (Injury Proneness Questionnaire - IPQ), considering also individual and cognitive factors. The IPQ was applied in studies involving adolescents, adults and elders. In addition, considering the role of attentional and spatial factors in injuries proneness, the relation between spatial skills and attentional problems was studied in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) through a meta-analysis. The IPQ demonstrated good reliability and was significantly related to questionnaires and tests. Cognitive and individual differences significantly influenced injury propensity: injury risk decreased with age, males had injuries more often after risky situations, whereas females after committing errors. Better spatial, attentional and cognitive skills were associated with lower injury predisposition during adolescence but higher in adulthood. The meta-analysis showed that individuals with ADHD, who are characterized by great injury predisposition, struggle with spatial skills. Results suggest that injuries are explained by individual and environmental factors.