Association Between Executive Function and Problematic Adolescent Driving.
Caitlin N Pope, Lesley A Ross, Despina Stavrinos
PMID 27661394WHAT IT FOUND
Performance-based executive function scores were unrelated to self-reported crashes, tickets, or being pulled over in 46 drivers.
Some self-reported executive difficulties, especially planning and inhibition, were associated with crashes or police contact.
Key findings
01Performance-based executive function scores, including a combined task-switching and working-memory score, were not significantly related to self-reported crashes, being pulled over, or tickets.
02Six self-reported executive function subscales were associated with being pulled over, and elevated scores were linked to 3.03 to 5.96 times greater reported odds.
03Plan/organize scores were associated with crashes, with elevated scores linked to 3.86 times greater reported odds, and inhibit scores were associated with tickets, with elevated scores linked to 7.81 times greater reported odds.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 46 licensed adolescents who drove at least three times per week, so it cannot represent all young drivers. Two of 48 enrolled adolescents did not return at-home questionnaires. Driving outcomes were self-reported, so crashes, being pulled over, and tickets may be inaccurate or biased. The study looked at associations from one assessment, so it cannot show that executive difficulties caused driving problems. Age and gender were not included in the regression models because of sample size. ADHD, drug or alcohol use, driving experience, and informant reports were not assessed. Only two performance-based executive function tests were used, and their combined score was unrelated to driving outcomes. Multiple self-reported executive function subscales were tested, and the authors corrected for multiple comparisons, but the findings still need replication.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that executive function problems cause risky driving or that performance-based cognitive tests can screen adolescent driving risk. The study looked at associations from one assessment, outcomes were self-reported, and performance-based executive function scores were not related to crashes, being pulled over, or tickets.