Longitudinal relationships between youth assets, seat belt use while driving, and the environment

BACKGROUND: Positive youth development theory can provide an alternative approach to promote Seat Belt Use while Driving in a Car (SBUDC) among youth. The study aims to explore the relationship between youth assets, and the neighborhood environment in predicting SBUDC. METHODS: The Youth Asset Study (YAS) is a 4-year (5 waves) longitudinal study of a random sample of 1,111 youth (12-17 years old) and their parents, taking place in a Midwestern city, USA from 2003-2008. Seventeen youth assets were developed. The environment was measured objectively via the broken windows survey and subjectively via parents’ interviews. Assets and environmental factors at Waves 1-4 were predicted SBUDC at Waves 4-5 while controlling for demographics. Data were analyzed via marginal logistic regression and generalized estimated equations analyses. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 1001 youth: 53% female; mean age=14.36 (SD = 1.59); 50% with income <$35,000; and 69% two-parent families. The proportion of youth not wearing a seat belt while driving increased from wave 4 to 5 only among African American youth. Individually, most assets had a positive relationship with SBUDC (ORs ranged from 1.3 to 2.7), with general aspirations for the future, educational aspirations for the future and positive peer role models having the largest ORs [2.7, 95% CI (1.7, 4.3); 2.2, 95% CI (1.5, 2.0); 1.9, 95% CI (1.5,2.4)] respectively. Youth with a higher (≥ 12) number of assets were almost twice as likely to use a seat belt while driving than those with a lower (<12) number [OR = 1.8, 95% CI (1.4, 2.3)]. Only one environmental factor had a significant effect on SBUDC [(OR = 1.32, 95% CI (1.01, 1.72)]. Assets retained their impact on SBUDC, controlling for the environmental and demographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Youth assets can be a promising approach to promote SBUDC among teens with emphasis on promoting general aspirations for the future, educational aspirations, and positive peer role modeling. KEY MESSAGES: • Building youth assets can be another mechanism to promote seat belt use while driving among youth. • The neighborhood environment might not be as important as other factors are in the promotion of seat belt use while driving.