Trajectories and Outcomes of Adolescents that Ride With an Impaired Driver/Drive While Impaired

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Longitudinal Studies

Background:

• Independent transportation offers opportunities for young adults.
• Riding with an impaired driver (RWI) and driving while impaired (DWI) can lead to negative consequences.
• Longitudinal associations between adolescent RWI/DWI trajectories and later life outcomes require examination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the prospective association between adolescent RWI and DWI trajectory classes and health, education, and employment in emerging adulthood.
• To identify distinct patterns of RWI and DWI engagement among adolescents over time.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the NEXT Generation Health Study (Waves 1-7).
• Employed latent class analysis to identify RWI and DWI trajectory classes.
• Analyzed associations between trajectory classes and W7 health, education, and employment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Four RWI trajectories (abstainer, escalator, decliner, persister) and four DWI trajectories were identified.
• RWI trajectories were significantly associated with W7 health status and education attainment.
• Adolescent RWI abstainers reported better health; decliners had less favorable education attainment compared to other RWI groups.
• No significant associations were found between DWI trajectories and health, education, or employment outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent RWI trajectories are important predictors of later health outcomes.
• Further research is needed to understand the complex, time-dependent outcomes associated with adolescent RWI and DWI.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing RWI among adolescents.