Predicting Speeding in Young Adults: Expanding the Focus of Problem-Behavior Theory

Drivers under the age of 25 die in more crashes that involve speeding than any other age group. Research in this area has recognized the influence of numerous factors affecting young driver behavior. Problem-Behavior Theory has been successful in accounting for numerous health compromising behaviors, including drinking and driving. The theory suggests that adolescent and young adult problem behaviors are interrelated and associated with other problem behaviors. This theory focuses on systems of psychosocial influence: the Personality system, the Perceived Environment system, and the Behavior system. These systems and other factors affecting young adults' health compromising behaviors, such as social support, were assessed for possible relationships with speeding, health risk behaviors ( e.g. alcohol, drug, and tobacco use; drinking and driving; nonspeeding risky driving, sexual behaviors), and conventional or protective factors such as student GPA and religiosity. The means by which these latter variables may act as protectors are through their ability to enforce social controls or expectations. The goal of the present study was to better understand the involvement of youth in risky health behaviors which may be related to and may be useful in predicting speeding attitudes and self reported behaviors. Five hundred and twenty six ODU college students completed an on-line survey collecting data to assess these variables. It was hypothesized that: ( 1) the set of health-compromising behaviors would be positively related to approval of speeding, (2) the set of conventional behavior variables would be negatively related to approval of speeding, (3) the set of personality variables would be negatively related to approval of speeding, ( 4) the set of environment variables would be negatively related to approval of speeding, (5) together, the set of health-compromising behaviors, the set of conventional behaviors, the set of personality variables, and the set of environment variables. were expected to predict approval of speeding in young adults, (6) together, the set of health-compromising behaviors including conventional behaviors, the set of personality variables, and the set of environment variables, were expected to increase the odds of receiving speeding citations, and (7) the odds of the receipt of a speeding citation will be greater for those with approving speeding attitudes. The impact of protective factors as individual predictors was also examined. Results of the study suggest that Problem-Behavior Theory may provide current relevance to understanding speeding. The behavior and personality sets were found to predict speeding attitudes and to increase the likelihood of receiving a speeding citation. Within those sets, the risky health behaviors and general self efficacy were found to be significant predictors of speeding attitudes. Risky health behaviors and religiosity were found to significantly predict the odds of receiving a speeding citation. PBT variable explained more variation in speeding behavior for men than for women.