The impact of childhood symptoms of conduct disorder on driver aggression in adulthood.
BACKGROUND
Despite limited empirical investigation, existing scientific literature suggests that individuals with a history or current diagnosis of conduct disorder (CD) may be more likely to demonstrate reckless and aggressive driving. Much of the limited research in this field examines the impact of childhood CD on driver behaviour and collision risk in young adults. Few if any, studies assess the impact of this disorder on driver behaviour beyond age 21 years. The current research is a population-based study of the impact of CD symptoms during childhood on the risk of engaging in driver aggression during adulthood.


METHODS
Data are based on telephone interviews with 5230 respondents who reported having driven in the past year. Data are derived from the 2011-2013 cycles of the CAMH Monitor, an ongoing cross-sectional survey of adults in Ontario, Canada aged 18 years and older. A binary logistic regression analysis of self-reported driver aggression in the previous 12 months was conducted, consisting of measures of demographic characteristics, driving exposure, problem substance use, alcohol- and drug-impaired driving, symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and childhood (before age 15) symptoms of CD.


RESULTS
When entered with demographic characteristics, driving exposure, and other potential confounders, childhood symptoms of CD increased the odds of reporting driver aggression more than two-fold (adjusted OR=2.12). Exploratory analyses of the interaction between childhood symptoms of CD and age was not a significant predictor of driver aggression.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that symptoms of CD during childhood are associated with significantly increased odds of self-reported driver aggression during adulthood. Limitations and future directions of the research are discussed.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: Christine.Wickens@camh.ca.
Christine M
CM
Wickens
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Evelyn
E
Vingilis
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Robert E
RE
Mann
Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Patricia
P
Erickson
Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Maggie E
ME
Toplak
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Nathan J
NJ
Kolla
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Jane
J
Seeley
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Anca R
AR
Ialomiteanu
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Gina
G
Stoduto
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Gabriela
G
Ilie
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Aggressive driving; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Conduct disorder; Conduct problems; Driver aggression; Population survey