A Longitudinal Examination of the Relationship between Adolescent Problem Behaviors and Traffic Crash Involvement during Young Adulthood

Abstract

Previous research examining the relationship between adolescent problem behaviors and young adult traffic outcomes (crashes, convictions, risky driving) has produced differing results. Possible reasons for this may be the heterogeneity of the crash outcomes (from minor fender-benders to fatal crashes), the gender of the driver, and/or the age of the driver. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between adolescent problem behaviors and young adult crashes to determine the extent to which the above factors influenced this relationship. This study was part of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (DMHDS), which is a longitudinal study of a cohort (n = 1,037) born in Dunedin, New Zealand, from April 1972 to March 1973. This cohort has been followed up regularly since birth, and the data for the present research were obtained at the 18-, 21-, and 26-year-old follow-up interviews. The problem behaviors examined were those identified by Jessor in the theory of problem behavior, namely, tobacco smoking, marijuana use, alcohol use, delinquent behavior, and unsafe sexual behavior. Data for these measures were obtained in personal interviews when the cohort was aged 18 years. The self-reported crash data were obtained at the age 21 and age 26 follow-up interviews. Driving exposure, academic qualifications, employment, being a parent, and marital status were included as potential confounders. The results show that involvement in adolescent problem behaviors predicted crash involvement at age 21 for the females but not the males and at age 26 for the males but not the females. Possible explanations for these differences by age and gender are discussed.

Keywords:

• Problem Behaviors
• Gender
• Adolescents
• Young Adults
• Crashes

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC), the Road Safety Trust, and the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC). The Injury Prevention Research Unit is funded by the HRC and the Accident Compensation Corporation of New Zealand. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (DMHDS) is funded by the HRC and the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. The authors thank Professor John Langley (Director IPRU), Shaun Stephenson (IPRU biostatistician), and Dr. Bob Hancox (DMHDS) for their comments on an earlier draft of this article. Thanks go to Maria Hutchinson-Cervantes, Judith Clarke, Judith Sligo, Melanie Parry, and Lyn Smith for collecting, coding, and checking the data; the other principal investigators of the DMHDS who contributed data for this research; and Dr. Phil Silva and Professor Richie Poulton as directors of the DMHDS. Finally, and most importantly, special thanks go to the members of the DMHDS cohort whose ongoing cooperation made this study possible.

Notes

∗Medium and high categories combined for analysis; there were no females with a high level of driving exposure that experienced an injury crash.