Correlates of seat-belt use by adolescents: Implications for health promotion

doi:10.1016/0091-7435(86)90066-6

Preventive Medicine

Volume 15, Issue 6, November 1986, Pages 614-623

https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-7435(86)90066-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

This study examined the psychosocial and behavioral correlates of seat-belt use among 1,728 10th-graders in four Northern California high schools. Parent and friend seat-belt use patterns were most highly correlated with student seat-belt use (r = 0.66 and r = 0.61, respectively) and together accounted for 46% of the variation in use. These relationships held across differences in sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Failure to wear seat belts was associated with a higher use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and cocaine; more tolerance toward speeding and drinking while driving; less exercise; and more preference for fat in the diet. Our findings attest to the power of parent and peer influences in shaping seat-belt use by adolescents and suggest that not wearing seat belts can be conceptualized as one facet of a pattern of general risk-taking behavior. These findings suggest several possible educational interventions to increase seat-belt use by adolescents.

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Cited by (34)

Associations between driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding and seatbelt use among fatally injured car drivers in Norway
2015, Accident Analysis and Prevention
Citation Excerpt :
Similar results have been found for drunk driving in previous studies. Positive associations between drunk driving and low frequency of seatbelt use is consistent with previous findings from crash-investigations (NHTSA, 2009; Phillips and Brewer, 2011; Tison et al., 2010), in general population surveys (Golias and Karlaftis, 2002; Sahai et al., 1998), in surveys among adolescents and students (Briggs et al., 2008; Maron et al., 1986; Oleckno and Blacconiere, 1990) and in a roadside survey (Foss et al., 1994). A positive association between drunk driving and excessive speeding has also been found in previous crash investigations (NHTSA, 2009, 2012; Phillips and Brewer, 2011; Stübig et al., 2012) and in a survey (Kweon and Kockelman, 2006).
Since 2005, all fatal road traffic crashes in Norway have been analyzed in-depth by multidisciplinary investigation teams organized by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA). During the period 2005–2010, 608 drivers of cars or vans were killed in road traffic crashes. Blood samples were collected from 372 (61%) of the drivers and analyzed for alcohol and a large number of psychoactive drugs at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH). After coupling the analytical results with the NPRA crash database, 369 drivers with a fatal outcome were identified and included. Alcohol or drug concentrations in blood above the legal limits were found in 39.8% of the drivers who were investigated for alcohol or drug impairment; 33.9% had blood alcohol concentrations above 0.5 g/L or concentrations of drugs above the equivalent Norwegian legal impairment limits or concentrations of amphetamines above 200 μg/L. Among drivers with a fatal outcome who had been impaired by alcohol or drugs, 64.6% were unbelted and 71.7% were speeding when the crash occurred; whereas 24.2% and 33.2% of the sober drivers were unbelted or speeding, respectively. Statistically significant associations were found between impairment by alcohol or amphetamines and driving unbelted or speeding. Excessive speeding is one of the main reasons for road traffic crashes and together with being unbelted the main reasons for a fatal outcome. This behavior might in many cases be due to increased risk-taking or negligence of safety measures as a result of alcohol or drug use.
Health-risk behaviors in adolescents as indicators of unconventional lifestyles
2010, Journal of Adolescence
This study analyses the dimensions of health-risk behaviors in adolescence. Based on the Theory of Problem Behavior, the study hypothesises that the structure of relations between risk behaviors may be explained in terms of their level of social transgression or unconventionality. With a sample of 771 adolescents, this study explores the association between the behaviors which, according to the WHO, have a greater impact on morbidity and mortality. The results of these analyses point to the existence of a latent variable grouping the risk behaviors that lead to greater confrontation with the norms of conventional society. The analysis of the relation of this latent variable with indicators of academic failure and satisfaction with peers and adults also produces findings that are consistent with the proposed interpretation. Finally, some recommendations are made for the planning of preventive interventions as a result of the findings.
Parenting and the Young Driver Problem
2008, American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
Therefore, parents' concerns for safety are balanced by the advantages of teenagers being able to drive independently.22,23 Parents and adolescents covary substantially in their attitudes, values, and behaviors,8,15,24 including driving-related behaviors such as safety belt use, drinking and driving, tickets, and crashes.25–31 However, the extent to which these associations may be due to shared genetics, parental role modeling, or other socializing influences of parents cannot be determined.25
Crash rates increase sharply at the age at which teenagers begin to drive and remain elevated relative to adult levels until drivers are well into their twenties. Parents have important roles to play in managing the risk for teenage drivers before and after licensure. Parents can be involved in their teenagers' driving, allowing them to test for permit and licensure, supervising practice driving, providing access to a vehicle, and setting and enforcing limits on driving privileges after licensure. However, the management practices of many parents may not be sufficient to provide safety effects. The literature indicates that the two most important decisions parents can make to reduce teenagers' driving risk are to delay licensure and impose limits on high-risk driving conditions (such as driving at night and with teenage passengers) during the first year of licensure. Two intervention programs have been shown to increase parental limit setting as a means of reducing risky driving behaviors and improving driving performance among novice teenage drivers. This article describes the contexts of and opportunities for parental involvement in teenage driving and the effectiveness of interventions to increase and improve parental management of young drivers.
Seat belt use among 13-15 year olds in primary and secondary enforcement law states
2007, Accident Analysis and Prevention
Coverage and enforcement provisions of safety belt use laws vary by state. Most laws cover drivers and passengers age 16 and above. “Primary” enforcement laws allow police to stop and ticket a motorist for a safety belt law violation. With “secondary” enforcement laws, ticketing can only occur in the presence of another traffic infraction. Given the lower rates of restraint use among teen drivers and their passengers, the effect of primary enforcement laws on the restraint use of young teen passengers is of particular interest.
To compare restraint use by 13–15 year olds passengers in motor vehicle crashes in states with primary versus secondary enforcement safety belt laws.
Cross-sectional study of 3953 crashes involving 5372 children, representing 54,226 children aged 13–15 years in 41,198 crashes of insured vehicles in 16 states and Washington, DC between December 1, 1998 and December 31, 2004, with data collected via insurance claims records and a telephone survey.
Non-use of restraints by 13–15 year olds was 7.2% (95% CI 4.3–10.1%) greater in secondary enforcement states (10.8%) as compared to states with primary enforcement laws (3.6%). After controlling for driver's age and restraint status and the seating row of the occupant, a 13–15 year olds was over twice as likely to be unrestrained in a secondary enforcement state as compared to a primary enforcement state (adjusted RR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.1).
States considering primary enforcement provisions to their restraint laws should consider the potential benefits these laws may have to all occupants in the vehicle, particularly young adolescents who are nearing driving age.
A twin study on sensation seeking, risk taking behavior and marijuana use
2001, Drug and Alcohol Dependence
The contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the covariation between risk-taking and marijuana use was assessed in adolescent twins. Genetic factors were found to significantly influence some traits (i.e. risk-taking attitude), while familial environmental factors were important for others (i.e. sexual promiscuity). For marijuana use, genetic and environmental factors were equally important; however, the association between risk taking and marijuana use may not be comparable for different behaviors. Results suggest that different etiological factors may underlie various risk taking traits which is relevant to both prevention efforts and attempts to identify genes involved in risk taking and shared genetic influences with substance use.
The gradient in mammography screening behavior: A lifestyle marker
1999, Social Science and Medicine
The study reports a gradient in adhering to a recommended health behavior–mammography screening. Data were collected on 951 Israeli women, aged 50–74, who were mailed an invitation to a prescheduled mammography screening appointment and were later phone interviewed about their background, their other health behaviors and their health perceptions related to cancer, mammography and self-rated health. The main finding that emerged was a gradient consisting of three groups defined by their adherence to mammography screening: women who declined the invitation to undergo screening (nonattenders, 32%), women who attended a screening upon encouragement (attenders, 45%) and women who initiated the test on their own (self-screenees, 23%). This gradient was shown to be related to structural/background variables (e.g. SES, age, education, ethnicity), other health behaviors and perceptual variables related to health in general and to cancer. For example, self-screenees were of a higher SES, engaged in more health behaviors and were closer to other women who performed a mammography. An analysis carried out to discern where the difference between the three groups lied showed that it was more apparent between the self-screenees and attenders, and that the attenders and nonattenders were more similar to each other.
These findings are discussed in terms of health behavior as a discrete phenomenon vs. reflecting a lifestyle. Suggestions for intervention possibilities are presented in light of the finer ranking proposed above (as opposed to the dichotomy of engaging/not engaging in a health behavior).

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^☆: This research was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program and by Public Health Service Grant HL 32185 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to John W. Farquhar, M.D. The opinions, conclusions, and proposals in the manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Maron was a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar when this study was conducted. Mr. Saylor is supported by Public Health Service National Research Service Award T 32 HL 07034 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

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General articleCorrelates of seat-belt use by adolescents: Implications for health promotion☆

Abstract

Committee on Accident and Poison Prevention: Automatic passenger protection systems

Pediatrics

Healthy People

Adolescent problem drinking: Psychosocial correlates in a national sample study

J. Studies Alcohol

The Cost of Not Wearing Seat Belts

Psychosocial correlates of marijuana use and problem drinking in a national sample of adolescents

Amer. J. Public Health

Problem Behavior and Psychosocial Development: A Longitudinal Study of Youth

General article
Correlates of seat-belt use by adolescents: Implications for health promotion☆