Examining age- and sex-related risk factors in first-time DWI offenders

DWI research has focused on younger males, consequently much less is known about female and older offenders. Quebec data demonstrate a bimodal distribution in first-time driving while impaired (fDWI) offences, a pattern also observed internationally. Males’ fDWI offences peak between the ages of 18 to 25 with a second smaller peak between 35 to 44. In contrast, females' fDWI offences peak between 36 to 47 with a smaller peak between 20 to 27. These observations suggest that the trajectory to fDWI offending is influenced by interactions between sex and age. This preliminary study explores how sex and age may interact to influence the trajectory to fDWI through patterning of alcohol consumption, psychological adjustment, and impulsivity. Individuals arrested for a fDWI within the past two years were recruited. Participants were administered the AUDIT, Timeline Follow Back, MCMI, UPPS, and Stoplight and Balloon Analog Risk Tasks. Thirty-six participants were recruited: younger females, younger males, older males, older females. Younger females engaged in more binge drinking, endorsed greater symptoms of alcohol misuse, and scored higher on urgency than both younger and older males. No significant findings were observed between older females and all other groups. fDWI offending among younger females appear to be related to binge drinking and emotion-related impulsivity. Younger females appear to be different than male offenders of all ages. The findings suggest that female fDWI is not analogous to male fDWI, a postulate that may need to be considered for intervention/prevention efforts with female fDWI offenders.

• Record URL:
  http://www.icadtsinternational.com/documents/?category=20th_T2013_Brisbane
• Authors:
  • Di Leo, I
  • Brown, T G
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (T2013), 20th, 2013, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 205-10
• Monograph Title: 20th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety Conference Proceedings, 25-28 August 2013, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Drivers; Drunk driving; Gender; Human beings; Human characteristics; Intoxication; Offenders
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• ATRI Terms: Age; Drink driving; Driver characteristics; Gender; Offender
• ITRD Terms: 1788: Woman
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01495661
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 17 2013 10:11AM