PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL PREDICTORS OF MOTORCYCLE USE BY YOUNG-ADULT MALES IN NEW-ZEALAND

Motorcycle riding is a significant cause of serious injuries to young males. Little is known about the psychological and social characterist ics of these riders, despite such knowledge being potentially importan t for the targeting of appropriate injury prevention interventions. Us ing problem-behaviour theory to broadly guide and structure the resear ch, the present study focused on identifying predictors of motorcycle riding. Previous research investigating differences between riders and non-riders has tended to be inconclusive, methodologically limited, a nd lacking in explicit theoretical foundations. The present research w as based on the birth cohort enrolled in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (DMHDS), a comprehensive New Zealand lon gitudinal study of health, development, attitudes, and behaviours. Log istic regression models were built using prior measures of health risk behaviour, other psychological and social factors, and motorcycle rid ing history as potential predictors of any motorcycle use at the age o f 18 years. The strongest predictors were early motorcycle riding, inc luding illegal on-road driving at age 13 (OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.7: 9.1), be low average reading skills (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.3, 4.6) and fighting in a public place at age 15 (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.2, 6.9). It was of particula r interest that this profile tended to fit less well those subgroups o f riders with greatest exposure to on-road motorcycle driving. Althoug h based on small numbers, this finding was consistent with earlier cro ss-sectional research that linked casual and unlicensed driving with l ess protective motorcycling opinions and behaviours. Some implications for injury prevention and public policies regarding motorcycling are discussed. In particular, stricter enforcement of present licensing re gulations and stronger penalties for their violation could help to red uce the number of less responsible riders. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science L td.