Xiang Gao1, Federico E Vaca2, Denise L Haynie3, Bruce G Simons-Morton3, Kaigang Li4. 1. Department of Health & Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. Electronic address: Xiang.Gao2@colostate.edu. 2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Yale Developmental Neurocognitive Driving Simulation Research Center (DrivSim Lab), New Haven, Connecticut. 3. Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland. 4. Department of Health & Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Yale Developmental Neurocognitive Driving Simulation Research Center (DrivSim Lab), New Haven, Connecticut; Colorado School of Public Health, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Driving licensure remains a major developmental milestone for adolescents as they become more independent to access important health, education, and employment opportunities. Today, more teens are delaying driving licensure than before. We investigated associations of delayed licensure with health, education, and employment 4 years after high school. METHODS: We analyzed data from all seven annual assessments (W1-W7) of the NEXT Generation Health Study, a nationally representative cohort survey starting at 10th grade (W1, 2009-2010). The independent variable was delaying driving licensure (DDL [delaying ≥1 year] vs. No-DDL), defined as participants receiving driver licensure ≥1 year after the initial legal eligibility time until W7. Outcome variables were self-reported health, education, and employment at W7. Covariates included sex, race/ethnicity, family affluence, parental education, and urbanicity. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted considering complex survey features. RESULTS: No-DDL versus DDL was associated with a higher likelihood of (1) excellent (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.06, p < .001), good (AOR = 1.74, p < .001), and fair (AOR = 1.34, p = .008) health compared with poor health; (2) completing a 4-year college or graduate school [AOR = 2.71, p < .001] and tech/community college [AOR = 1.92, p = .004] compared with high school or less; and (3) working ≥30 hours/week (AOR = 7.63, p = .011) and working <30 hours/week (AOR = 1.54, p = .016) compared with not working. DISCUSSION: Among emerging adults, no delay in driving licensure was associated with better self-reported health, higher education, and more working hours four years after leaving high school. Although earlier driving licensure increases driving exposure and risk, avoiding DDL appears to provide advantages for health, education, and employment during early adulthood.
PURPOSE: Driving licensure remains a major developmental milestone for adolescents as they become more independent to access important health, education, and employment opportunities. Today, more teens are delaying driving licensure than before. We investigated associations of delayed licensure with health, education, and employment 4 years after high school. METHODS: We analyzed data from all seven annual assessments (W1-W7) of the NEXT Generation Health Study, a nationally representative cohort survey starting at 10th grade (W1, 2009-2010). The independent variable was delaying driving licensure (DDL [delaying ≥1 year] vs. No-DDL), defined as participants receiving driver licensure ≥1 year after the initial legal eligibility time until W7. Outcome variables were self-reported health, education, and employment at W7. Covariates included sex, race/ethnicity, family affluence, parental education, and urbanicity. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted considering complex survey features. RESULTS: No-DDL versus DDL was associated with a higher likelihood of (1) excellent (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.06, p < .001), good (AOR = 1.74, p < .001), and fair (AOR = 1.34, p = .008) health compared with poor health; (2) completing a 4-year college or graduate school [AOR = 2.71, p < .001] and tech/community college [AOR = 1.92, p = .004] compared with high school or less; and (3) working ≥30 hours/week (AOR = 7.63, p = .011) and working <30 hours/week (AOR = 1.54, p = .016) compared with not working. DISCUSSION: Among emerging adults, no delay in driving licensure was associated with better self-reported health, higher education, and more working hours four years after leaving high school. Although earlier driving licensure increases driving exposure and risk, avoiding DDL appears to provide advantages for health, education, and employment during early adulthood.
Authors: Danice K Eaton; Laura Kann; Steve Kinchen; Shari Shanklin; James Ross; Joseph Hawkins; William A Harris; Richard Lowry; Tim McManus; David Chyen; Connie Lim; Lisa Whittle; Nancy D Brener; Howell Wechsler Journal: MMWR Surveill Summ Date: 2010-06-04