The role of parents and friends in adolescent risky driving: how they drive and what they think about risky driving

Developmental psychology literature has stressed the role of parents’ and friends’ behavior models and attitudes in adolescents’ involvement in risk behavior (Jessor et al., 1991; Bonino et al., 2005). With reference to risky driving (traffic code violations and driving in a risky way) different studies have investigated the role of parents’ and friends’ driving style as well as their attitudes about adolescent involvement in risky driving (Hartos et al., 2000; Taubman-Ben-Ari et al., 2005; Wilson et al., 2006). However, previous studies have only examined these predictors separately. The present study investigates the combination of these variables in the prediction of self-reported risky driving, by taking into account the differences between the maternal and paternal role and the roles of friends and the best friend. Evaluations of parents’ and friends’ risky driving models and their disapproval of risky driving are based on adolescents’ perceptions. The main aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between parents’ risky driving models and risky driving disapproval (looking separately at mothers and fathers), friends’ risky driving model and risky driving disapproval (distinguishing between friends and best friend) and adolescents’ involvement in risky driving. Gender differences were also investigated. We expected that adolescents’ greater involvement in risky driving was related to parents’ and friends’ risky driving model, while lower involvement was related to parents’ and friends’ disapproval of risky driving. Data were collected through an anonymous self-report questionnaire. The study involved 341 adolescent drivers (car, motorbike, moped) (50% boys), ages 15 to 19, attending different high schools in Piedmont (northwestern Italy). Risky driving was evaluated using the scale developed by Bonino et al. (2005), while items related to parents’ and friends’ risky driving model and risky driving disapproval were formulated specifically for this study. Correlations and hierarchical multiple regressions were carried out, respondent age was controlled for, and gender and average weekly miles driven were considered in order to investigate relationships between variables. Main results stressed that: 1) in the total sample significant predictors of risky driving were gender, paternal, friends’ and best friend’s risky driving models, and friends’ disapproval of risky driving; 2) for boys the best predictor was friends’ disapproval of risky driving followed by friends’ and paternal risky driving model; 3) for girls significant predictors were age and best friend’s risky driving model. Implications for risky driving prevention in adolescence are discussed.