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Cullen P, Mőller H, Baffsky R, Martiniuk A, Senserrick T, Rogers K, Woodward M, Stevenson MR, McLean R, Sawyer S, Patton G, Ivers RQ. Self-harm in adolescence and risk of crash: a 13-year cohort study of novice drivers in New South Wales, Australia. Inj Prev 2023; 29:302-308. [PMID: 36813554 PMCID: PMC10423516 DOI: 10.1136/ip-2022-044807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Self-harm and suicide are leading causes of morbidity and death for young people, worldwide. Previous research has identified self-harm is a risk factor for vehicle crashes, however, there is a lack of long-term crash data post licensing that investigates this relationship. We aimed to determine whether adolescent self-harm persists as crash risk factor in adulthood. METHODS We followed 20 806 newly licensed adolescent and young adult drivers in the DRIVE prospective cohort for 13 years to examine whether self-harm was a risk factor for vehicle crashes. The association between self-harm and crash was analysed using cumulative incidence curves investigating time to first crash and quantified using negative binominal regression models adjusted for driver demographics and conventional crash risk factors. RESULTS Adolescents who reported self-harm at baseline were at increased risk of crashes 13 years later than those reporting no self-harm (relative risk (RR) 1.29: 95% CI 1.14 to 1.47). This risk remained after controlling for driver experience, demographic characteristics and known risk factors for crashes, including alcohol use and risk taking behaviour (RR 1.23: 95% CI 1.08 to 1.39). Sensation seeking had an additive effect on the association between self-harm and single-vehicle crashes (relative excess risk due to interaction 0.87: 95% CI 0.07 to 1.67), but not for other types of crashes. DISCUSSION Our findings add to the growing body of evidence that self-harm during adolescence predicts a range of poorer health outcomes, including motor vehicle crash risks that warrant further investigation and consideration in road safety interventions. Complex interventions addressing self-harm in adolescence, as well as road safety and substance use, are critical for preventing health harming behaviours across the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Cullen
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Ngarruwan Ngadju: First Peoples Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Holger Mőller
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rachel Baffsky
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alexandra Martiniuk
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Teresa Senserrick
- Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kris Rogers
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark Woodward
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mark R Stevenson
- Transport Health and Urban Design Research Hub, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca McLean
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Susan Sawyer
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - George Patton
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca Q Ivers
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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