Longitudinal associations between internalizing symptoms and driving avoidance in newly licensed adolescents

Abstract

Background Extensive literature assesses risky adolescent driving, but nothing examines what makes teens avoid driving. Many assume teenagers are eager to drive, but evidence suggests internalizing symptoms lead some to avoid driving. Aims This study tested whether depressive and anxious symptomology predicted longitudinal driving avoidance in novice teen drivers. Materials and Methods N = 56 16‐year‐olds (52% female; 48% Black/African American) completed three observations over 6 months. At Time 1, participants reported depressive (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression 10‐item Scale) and anxious (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7‐item Scale) symptomologies, and driving avoidance (Driving Habits Questionnaire [DHQ]), repeating DHQ at Times 2 and 3. Multiple linear regression tested whether symptomologies predicted avoidance at licensure. Linear mixed models tested associations between symptomologies and avoidance over time. Results High anxiety predicted greater avoidance at baseline and over 6 months. Depressive symptoms did not predict avoidance. Discussion Findings warrant an assessment of anxious adolescents' barriers to driving and avoidance impacts on crash risk.

Driver’s Licensure and Driving Outcomes Among Youths With Mood Disorders

“…Depressive symptoms in this population were associated with a decreased sense of self-control owing to reduced mobility . Longitudinal studies suggest that depression typically follows rather than precedes driving cessation in this population, although a bidirectional association may exist . Few studies have attempted to examine driving avoidance and mood disorders in youths and thus far have not identified an association .…”

“… 41 , 42 Longitudinal studies suggest that depression typically follows rather than precedes driving cessation in this population, 40 , 43 although a bidirectional association may exist. 41 , 42 , 44 , 45 Few studies have attempted to examine driving avoidance and mood disorders in youths and thus far have not identified an association. 44 Symptoms of depression, such as anhedonia and attention difficulties, can make the steps to acquire a license challenging.…”

“… 41 , 42 , 44 , 45 Few studies have attempted to examine driving avoidance and mood disorders in youths and thus far have not identified an association. 44 Symptoms of depression, such as anhedonia and attention difficulties, can make the steps to acquire a license challenging. Further work is needed to clarify underlying mechanisms associated with decreased rates of initial license acquisition in adolescents and young adults with mood disorders.…”

“…41,42,44,45 Few studies have attempted to examine driving avoidance and mood disorders in youths and thus far have not identified an association. 44 Symptoms of depression, such as anhedonia and attention difficulties, can make the steps to acquire a license challenging. Further…”

Characteristics of Patients Diagnosed with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) Who Request Reinstatement of Their Driving Privileges

“…More profound depression has been associated with worse prognosis in PNES [23] which could be considered consistent with our results regarding lower depression in the patient group that reported seizure-freedom and decided to resume driving. Within other populations, previous studies that have compared individuals who drive to those who avoid or cease driving have reported depression as a potential contributor to driving avoidance and cessation [24,25]. In one study, participants aged 70 and older (647 drivers and 53 participants who ceased driving) were examined at baseline and two years later.…”