Associations Between Parenting Styles and Teen Driving, Safety-Related Behaviors and Attitudes

Abstract

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT:Authoritative parenting style is known to influence adolescent behaviors and attitudes positively. However, little is known about the interplay between parental warmth, support, and control in relation to teen driving safety. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:Parents matter. This study confirms that safe driving belongs on the list of adolescent behaviors known to be influenced positively by authoritative parenting. abstract + OBJECTIVE:The goal was to explore the association between parenting style and driving behaviors. METHODS:The 2006 National Young Driver Survey gathered data on driving safety behaviors from a nationally representative sample of 5665 ninth-, 10th-, and 11th-graders. A parenting style variable was based on adolescent reports and separated parents into 4 groups, (1) authoritative (high support and high rules/monitoring), (2) authoritarian (low support and high rules/monitoring), (3) permissive (high support and low rules/monitoring), and (4) uninvolved (low support and low rules/monitoring). Associations between parenting style and driving behaviors and attitudes were assessed. RESULTS:One half of parents were described as authoritative, 23% as permissive, 8% as authoritarian, and 19% as uninvolved. Compared with teens with uninvolved parents, those with authoritative parents reported one half the crash risk in the past year (odds ratio [OR] CONCLUSIONS:Clinicians should encourage parents to set rules and to monitor teens' driving behaviors, in a supportive context. Pediatrics

Drinking and Parenting Practices as Predictors of Impaired Driving Behaviors Among U.S. Adolescents

“…A cross-sectional study with a nationally representative sample of 9th-, 10th-, and 11th-grade students found that teenagers with authoritative parents who exhibited both warmth/support and monitoring were 71% less likely to drive while impaired compared with those who had uninvolved parents (Ginsburg et al, 2009). However, the analyses did not control for the teenager's substance use.…”

Association Between Riding With an Impaired Driver and Driving While Impaired

“…In cross-sectional studies of DWI risk, male gender, 11 previous driving offenses, 12 risky driving, 10 riding with an impaired driver (RWI), 11 poor family relationships, 13 and lack of parental monitoring 14 were found to be associated with teenage DWI. The most consistent predictor of DWI in studies in adolescent samples is problem drinking, including heavy alcohol use and drinking-related problems.…”

Prácticas parentales y conductas de riesgo del peatón en una muestra de adolescentes chilenos

“…El énfasis de la investigación en esta área, con población adolescente, ha estado puesto en estudiar el rol parental en la conducción durante la etapa de novicio [11][12][13][14] . Los resultados muestran que las prácticas parentales juegan un rol fundamental en el involucramiento de conductas de riesgo en la conducción de estos jóvenes 11,14 .…”

“…Los resultados muestran que las prácticas parentales juegan un rol fundamental en el involucramiento de conductas de riesgo en la conducción de estos jóvenes 11,14 . Los investigadores han encontrado que adolescentes cuyos padres ponen más reglas respecto de la conducción, supervisan la conducta del adolescente y los apoyan, se involucran menos en violaciones de normas del tránsito y en accidentes 14 . Por esa razón, proponemos que las prácticas parentales también influirán en las conductas de los adolescentes como peatones.…”