Family Communication Patterns and Teen Drivers’ Attitudes Toward Driving Safety

Abstract

IntroductionFamily communication patterns (FCPs) play an important role in reducing the risk-taking behaviors of teens, such as substance use and safer sex. However, little is known about the relationship between family communication and teen driving safety. MethodWe analyzed the baseline data from a randomized trial that included 163 parent-teen dyads, with teens who would be receiving their intermediate driver’s license within 3 months. FCPs were divided into four types—pluralistic, protective, consensual, and laissez-faire—and were correlated with the frequency of parent-teen discussions and teens’ driving safety attitudes. ResultsThe ratings on four types of FCPs were distributed quite evenly among teens and parents. Parents and teens agreed on their FCP ratings (p = .64). In families with communication patterns that were laissez-faire, protective, and pluralistic, parents talked to their teens less about safe driving than did parents in families with a consensual communication pattern (p < .01). Moreover, the frequency of parent-teen communication about safe driving was positively associated with teen attitudes toward safe driving (adjusted β = 0.35, p = .03). DiscussionHealth care providers need to encourage parents, particularly those with non-consensual FCPs, to increase frequency of parent-teen interactions.