Longitudinal relationships between youth assets, seat belt use as a rider, and the environment

BACKGROUND: Positive youth development theory can provide an alternative approach to promote Seat Belt Use while Riding in a Car (SBURC) among youth. The study aims to explore the relationship between youth assets, and the neighborhood environment in predicting SBURC. 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 predicted SBURC 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 riding in a car decreased from wave 4 to 5 among all youth. Individually, most assets had a positive relationship with SBURC (ORs ranged from 1.4 to 2.0), with parental monitoring, responsible choices, general aspirations for the future and good health practices having the largest ORs [2.0, 95% CI (1.5, 2.7); 1.9, 95% CI (1.5, 2.6); 1.8, 95% CI (1.2,2.8); 1.8, 95% CI (1.5,2.3)] respectively. Youth with a higher (≥ 12) number of assets were almost twice as likely to use a SBURC than those with a lower ((<)12) number [OR = 1.9, 95% CI (1.5, 2.3)]. Only one environmental factor, had a significant effect on SBURC [(OR = 0.64, 95% CI (0.45, 0.90)]. Assets retained their impact on SBURC, controlling for the environmental and demographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Youth assets can be an alternative approach to promote SBURC among teens with emphasis on promoting parental monitoring, responsible choices, general aspirations for the future, and good health practices. 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.