Adolescent motor vehicle crashes: The relationship between behavioral factors and self-reported injury

Purpose: TO examine the relative importance of demographic and behavioral f actors, as well as alcohol use, in motor vehicle crash (MVC)-related injuri es in an adolescent sample. Methods: Data were collected from two samples of adolescents. In Study 1, a total of 1576 9th through 12th graders from three different high schools p rovided information on risk-taking behavior and injuries experienced during the previous six months. Study 2 involved a more fine-grained analysis of behavioral factors related to MVC-related injuries. A sample of 573 adolesc ent males from an all-boys parochial high school completed questionnaires a ssessing risk-taking, attention and behavior problems, alcohol use, driving behavior, and self-reported injury. Results: Rates of self-reported MVC-related injuries for a 6-month period w ere consistent across the two studies, ranging from 10% in the mixed-gender sample to 16% in the all-male sample. Consistent with previous findings, m ales reported more frequent MVC-related injuries and higher rates of risk-t aking behavior. In Study I, age and risk-taking behaviors were predictive o f injuries while riding or driving in a car. In the all-male sample, risk-t aking behavior and conduct problems were significant predictors of MVC-rela ted injuries. Conclusions: Risk-taking is a consistent predictor of both general and MVC- related injuries. Intervention efforts with adolescents may be targeted at increasing safe driving strategies as well as decreasing risk-taking behavi ors. (C) Society for Adolescent medicine, 2000.