Anticipating Adulthood: Expected Timing of Work and Family Transitions Among Rural youth

This study examined family and individual processes influencing the future expectancies of adolescents (N = 345) from an economically stressed rural community. The anticipated timing and sequencing of key role transitions (school completion, job entry, marriage, and parenthood) were examined for each gender. In addition, factors contributing to individual differences in expected timing were examined, and gender differences in predictors were tested. Results indicated that rural adolescents\u27 expectancies about adult role transitions diverged somewhat from societal norms with respect to timing. Family background and relationships, adolescents\u27 attitudes and behaviors, and educational aspirations all contributed to individual differences in expected timing, with somewhat different factors being salient for boys and girls. These findings provide clues to the psychological processes linking adolescent experiences to the construction of the adult life course

An evaluation of the Road Ready Teens video game: final report

Notes: "September, 2003."Notes: Cover titleNotes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 35)Notes: Performed by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute for the National Safety CouncilNational Safety Council, Chicago, Ill.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/1537/2/97479.0001.001.pd

Factors influencing the use of booster seats: a statewide survey of parents

Includes bibliographical references (p. 45-46)This study gathered telephone interview data on attitudes, knowledge and motivations regarding booster seat use from a representative stratified random sample of parents with children between the ages of 4 and 8 years living in the State of Michigan. Interviews were completed between December 1 and December 15, 2004, with parents of children in 350 households. Due to demographic differences between this sample and the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), weights were calculated using NHTS data, and both unweighted and weighted analyses were conducted. No differences were found between the conclusions drawn from the weighted and unweighted analyses; therefore, unweighted results were reported. Analyses examined the sample, overall, part-time booster seat users, and booster seat non-users. Numerous differences were identified based on parental sex, and booster seat use. Results indicated that the lack of legislation mandating booster seat use was a key variable determining level of use and the motivation to use booster seats. Nearly 70% of part-time users said that they used booster seats because they believed it was the law. Similarly, 60% of part-time and non-booster seat users said that they would be more likely to use booster seats if use were mandated by law, with non-users being more than three times as likely as part-time users to agree that a law would increase their booster seat use. Finally, over 90% of part-time and non-booster seat users said it would be easier for them to use booster seats if a law required it, and non-users were almost three times more likely than part-time users to agree that a law would make use easier. The need for booster seat laws, issues of social equity, and implications for intervention were discussed.Michigan Department of Community Health, Injury Prevention Section, LansingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Atlanta, Ga.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/8519/2/98939.pd

Family Background and Personal Characteristics as Correlates of Sexual Intercourse Experience Among Adolescent Females

A sub-sample of 814 nonvirgin, adolescent females was drawn from the 1979 U. S. National Survey of Young Women in order to study the correlates of age at first sexual intercourse. This sample was analyzed using a conceptual model developed from past research, as well as some intuitively interesting associations meriting investigation. Multiple regression procedures were used in analysis of variables by block. In the block analysis several variables were found to predict age at first sexual intercourse. These variables included all the control variables (respondent\u27s age, race, religion, and age at menarche), household income, ideal age for first marriage, ideal age for first birth, and enjoyment of dangerous activities. The control variables were found to account for a major portion of the variance in the model. Of the controls, chronological age and age at menarche were highly significant across all the models tested. The significant independent variables in the model were total household income, ideal age for marriage and ideal age at first birth, however, these three variables accounted for a small proportion of the total variance in the model, net of controls

Current and future issues regarding highway safety

Performed in cooperation with the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning and the National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationIncludes bibliographical referencesSleepiness and fatique -- Teen drivers -- Impaired driving -- Occupant protection -- Distracted drivers -- Aggressive driving -- Older drivers -- Construction zones -- Roadway congestion -- Homeland security -- Large trucksOver the past decade, the State of Michigan has enjoyed continuous increases in traffic safety, including decreased numbers of property-damage-only, fatal and injury crashes, had-been-drinking fatal and injury crashes, and drinking drivers, overall and for teen/young adult and older drivers. These declining trends, combined with other positive developments, such as increasing rates of restraint use, have occurred at the same time that the number of registered vehicles and the VMT steadily increased. In order to assist in the maintenance of these positive traffic safety trends, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Prevention (OHSP) contracted with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) to conduct a review of the literature to identify current and future issues that have implications for traffic safety in Michigan. The review covers newly arising issues, as well as issues that are the focus of ongoing efforts to enhance motor vehicle safety. The review encompasses current, as well as historical data from both the state and national levels, and is organized into sections by topic area. The topics are: Sleepiness and fatigue; teen drivers; impaired driving; occupant protection; distracted drivers; aggressive driving; older drivers; construction zones; roadway congestion; homeland security; and large trucks. The information for the report was compiled in three primary steps. First, an internet search of news and safety websites identified topic areas relevant to traffic safety. Second, a comprehensive literature search, using a variety of databases and information sources, identified current trends in traffic safety and technological advances that had implications for traffic safety. Finally, the information gained from the literature was organized into an annotated bibliography and used to prepare the review narrative with assistance from UMTRI researchers and staff, as well as by OHSP staff members.Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, Lansinghttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/3124/2/98258.pd

Crash risk among teen drivers: identification and prediction of excess risk

This study used school-based survey data from 6,870 students, and Michigan State Police crash records and Michigan Secretary of State driver history records to identify crash types for which teen drivers are at excess risk, and to examine psychosocial and behavioral factors that predicted the crash types. Rates and rate ratios were used in combination to identify the crash types that represent the most serious threat to teen drivers, relative to adults. The crash types that represent the greatest risk to teenage men included: road departure/passenger; speeding/nighttime; single vehicle/road departure/speeding; weekend/nighttime/passenger; speeding/weather/nighttime; passenger/nighttime; improper lane use/passenger; single vehicle/road departure; single vehicle/driver action; speeding/weather; alcohol/passenger/ speeding; alcohol/passenger/nighttime; alcohol/nighttime/speeding; alcohol/weekend/speeding; alcohol/passenger/weekend; alcohol/speeding; alcohol/speeding/casualty; casualty/passenger/ nighttime; casualty/road departure/nighttime; casualty/speeding; casualty/overturn; casualty/road departure; and casualty/weekend/nighttime. For teenage women, weekend/nighttime/ passenger, passenger/nighttime, road departure/passenger, speeding/nighttime, speeding/weather/nighttime, driver action/weather/nighttime, improper lane use/passenger, alcohol/passenger/speeding, alcohol/nighttime/speeding, alcohol/passenger/weekend, alcohol/weekend/ speeding, alcohol/speeding/casualty, alcohol/passenger, alcohol/passenger/casualty, alcohol/ passenger/nighttime, casualty/passenger/nighttime, casualty/overturn, casualty/road departure/nighttime, casualty/weekend/nighttime, casualty/weekend/nighttime, casualty/ speeding, and casualty/passenger/alcohol. Crash risk declined rapidly with each additional year of age for teen drivers, and teen and adult women had higher rates than their male counterparts for all crash types, with the exception of alcohol-involved crashes. Implications for teen driver training, supervision, and graduated driver licensing programs were discussed.Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57284/1/UMTRI-2007-13.pd

Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTS

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Active transportation including walking and bicycling is an important source of physical activity. Promoting active transportation is a challenge for the fields of public health and transportation. Descriptive data on the predictors of active transportation, including seasonal patterns in active transportation in the US as a whole, is needed to inform interventions and policies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study analyzed monthly variation in active transportation for the US using National Household Travel Survey 2001 data. For each age group of children, adolescents, adults and elderly, logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of the odds of active transportation including gender, race/ethnicity, household income level, geographical region, urbanization level, and month.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The probability of engaging in active transportation was generally higher for children and adolescents than for adults and the elderly. Active transportation was greater in the lower income groups (except in the elderly), was lower in the South than in other regions of the US, and was greater in areas with higher urbanization. The percentage of people using active transportation exhibited clear seasonal patterns: high during summer months and low during winter months. Children and adolescents were more sensitive to seasonality than other age groups. Women, non-Caucasians, persons with lower household income, who resided in the Midwest or Northeast, and who lived in more urbanized areas had greater seasonal variation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These descriptive results suggest that interventions and policies that target the promotion of active transportation need to consider socio-demographic factors and seasonality.</p