Executive Functioning as a Predictor of Adverse Driving Outcomes in Teen Drivers With ADHD

James D Lynch; Leanne Tamm; Annie A Garner; Amina A Avion; Donald L Fisher; Adam W Kiefer; James Peugh; John O Simon; Jeffery N Epstein

doi:10.1177/10870547231197210

Executive Functioning as a Predictor of Adverse Driving Outcomes in Teen Drivers With ADHD

J Atten Disord. 2023 Dec;27(14):1650-1661. doi: 10.1177/10870547231197210. Epub 2023 Sep 9.

Authors

James D Lynch^{1

2}, Leanne Tamm^{2

3}, Annie A Garner⁴, Amina A Avion⁴, Donald L Fisher^{5

6}, Adam W Kiefer⁷, James Peugh^{2

3}, John O Simon², Jeffery N Epstein^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ University of Cincinnati, OH, USA.
² Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH, USA.
³ University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH, USA.
⁴ St. Louis University, MO, USA.
⁵ University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA.
⁶ Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, U.S. Department of Transportation, Cambridge, MA, USA.
⁷ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.

PMID: 37688481
PMCID: PMC10879659 (available on 2024-12-01)
DOI: 10.1177/10870547231197210

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined the association between executive functioning (EF) and risky driving behaviors in teens with ADHD.

Method: Teens diagnosed with ADHD (n = 179; M_age = 17.4 years) completed two 15-min drives in a fixed-base driving simulator. EF was assessed using parent- and self-report Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF-2), a temporal reproduction task, and a Go/No-Go task (GNG). Driving outcomes included known predictors of crashes: count of long (>2 s) off-road glances, standard deviation (SD) of lane position (SDLP), mean speed, and SD speed. Generalized linear mixed models, controlling for intelligence and driving experience, were conducted.

Results: Higher rates of GNG commission errors predicted higher rates of long off-road glances. Lower parent-rated EF and increased rates of GNG omission errors predicted SDLP. Higher rates of GNG commission errors also predicted faster average driving speed.

Conclusion: Heterogeneity in EF is associated with differences in teen ADHD risky driving behaviors.

Keywords: ADHD; driving; executive function; simulated driving performance.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / diagnosis
Automobile Driving*
Executive Function
Humans
Parents
Risk-Taking

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding