Association Between Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Helmet Use Among Motorcycle Riders

Abstract

BackgroundUse of helmets plays a major role in preventing injuries or decreasing injury severity among motorcycle riders. Use of helmets may depend on personal factors such as psychological factors.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to independently assess the association between helmet use among motorcycle riders and ADHD scores, with controlling the accident history and was taken more sensitive measures if helmet use was different between motorcycle riders, according to their ADHD scores.Patients and MethodsA cross-sectional study was done on 205 motorcycle riders referred to Kerman Referral Injury Hospital after a motorcycle traffic accident. Friends and family members possessing motorcycles who visited the patient in this facility were included in our sample. The Persian version of the Conner’s Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) self-report (screening version) was used in order to screen for adult ADHD. CAARS scores were compared between those who usually used helmets and those who did not.ResultsUnivariable analysis showed the mean of the age variable was significantly higher in the helmeted group, 26.94 ± 7.72 vs. 23.08 ± 7.7.32, (P < 0.001). The majority of the non-helmeted group was single (P < 0.001). Subjects with secondary educational level were more often in the helmeted group (P = 0.007). Daily and weekly driving hours were higher in the non-helmeted group (P = 0.002 and P = 0.004). Most of the subjects in the helmeted group had a driving license in comparison with the other group (P < 0.001). There was not a significant association between SES and having hyperactive children and helmet use (P = 0.159). In all ADHD subscales, a significant association was found and scores were higher in the non-helmeted group (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, multivariable analysis did not confirm the association of the ADHD screening score with helmet use.ConclusionsThe result of this study did not find an independent association between ADHD and helmet use.

Evaluating the relationship between adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and riding behavior of motorcyclists

“…A study conducted in 2011 found that there is an inverse relationship between motorcyclists’ ADHD screening scores and the rate of helmet use. 40 This is consistent with our finding that the greater the ADHD screening score, the lower the frequency of helmet use.…”

Adult ADHD screening scores and hospitalization due to pedestrian injuries: a case-control study

“…In another study, it was reported that every unit increase in ADHD severity score increased the chance of motor vehicles accidents by 5% [18]. Very few observational studies have also investigated the association of ADHD with riding behavior and risk of crash among motorcycle and bicycle riders [27][28][29][30][31][32][33] [14-20, 26, 28-30, 34, 35]. Efforts on increasing awareness of ADHD and screening of drivers for ADHD with subsequent evaluation and treatment are recommended for driver-related safety promotion [36] and it has also been shown that the hazard perception skills of drivers with ADHD can be improved using interventions such as computer based driver training even without pharmacologic treatment [37].…”

Unhelmeted Riding, Drunk Riding, and Unlicensed Riding among Motorcyclists: A Population Study in Taiwan during 2011–2016

“…When reviewed together, these studies support that alcohol use and riding without a helmet were risk factors for severe and fatal injuries. Riders have also been observed to engage in several risk-taking behaviours, such as unlicensed riding [ 37 , 38 ]. However, such research has focused on the individual effect of alcohol use rather than that of riding without a helmet or riding without a license.…”