Motorsports involvement among adolescents and young adults with childhood ADHD.
Although children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at risk for impulsive, health-endangering behavior, few studies have examined nonsubstance, use-related risk-taking behaviors. This study examined whether adolescents and young adults with ADHD histories were more likely than those without ADHD histories to report frequent engagement in motorsports, a collection of risky driving-related activities associated with elevated rates of physical injury. Path analyses tested whether persistent impulsivity, comorbid conduct disorder or antisocial personality disorder (CD/ASP), and heavy alcohol use mediated this association. Analyses also explored whether frequent motorsporting was associated with unsafe and alcohol-influenced driving. Two hundred twenty-one adolescent and young adult males (16-25 years old) diagnosed with ADHD in childhood and 139 demographically similar males without ADHD histories reported their motorsports involvement. Persistent impulsivity, CD/ASP, heavy drinking, and hazardous driving were also measured in adolescence/young adulthood. Adolescents and young adults with ADHD histories were more likely to report frequent motorsports involvement than those without childhood ADHD. Impulsivity, CD/ASP, and heavy drinking partially mediated this association, such that individuals with ADHD histories, who had persistent impulsivity or CD/ASP diagnoses, were more likely to engage in heavy drinking, which was positively associated with frequent motorsporting. Motorsports involvement was associated with more unsafe and alcohol-influenced driving, and this association was more often found among those with, than without, ADHD histories. Adolescents and young adults with ADHD histories, especially those with persisting impulsivity, comorbid CD/ASP and heavy drinking tendencies, are more likely to engage in motorsports, which may heighten risk of injury.
Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA. wymbs@ohio.edu
Brian T
BT
Wymbs
Brooke S G
BS
Molina
Katherine A
KA
Belendiuk
Sarah L
SL
Pedersen
Christine A P
CA
Walther
Jee Won
JW
Cheong
James S
JS
McGinley
Michael P
MP
Marshal
Elizabeth M
EM
Gnagy
William E
WE
Pelham
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking