YOUNG ADULT DRINKING-DRIVING: BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES

Behavioral and psychosocial correlates of drinking and driving were examined in 2 independent samples of licensed drivers aged 18-25 years selected from the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles database. Mail questionnaires were returned by 2,300 young adults (1,196 in Sample 1; 1,104 in Sample 2). Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relation of a latent-variable measure of drinking-driving to latent-variable measures of other driving behaviors, problem behaviors, and psychosocial variables. Drinking-driving, drug-driving, and risky driving were found to comprise a more general, 2nd-order factor of problem driving behavior. Drinking-driving was also found to constitute 1 aspect of a larger 2nd-order latent variable that included problem drinking, marijuana use, other illicit drug use and delinquent-type behavior. In combination, the variables of problem driving, other problem behaviors, psychosocial unconventionality, risk-taking, and hostility/aggression accounted for 57% of the variance in young adult drinking-driving. All of these Sample 1 findings were buttressed by confirmatory analyses in the independent Sample 2 data. The conclusion can be drawn that drinking-driving is part of a more general lifestyle involving behavior and psychosocial unconventionality.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0096882X
• Corporate Authors:

  Alcohol Research Documentation, Incorporated

  P.O. Box 969
  Piscataway, NJ  United States  08854
• Authors:
  • Donovan, J E
• Publication Date: 1993-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 600-613
• Serial:
  • Journal of Studies on Alcohol
  • Volume: 54
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Rutgers University, New Brunswick
  • ISSN: 0096-882X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol use; Automobile drivers; Automobile driving; Behavior; Drugged drivers; Drunk drivers; Human factors; Impaired drivers; Marijuana; Mathematical models; Problem drivers; Psychological aspects; Structural equation modeling; Teenage drivers; Transportation safety; Young adults
• Identifier Terms: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
• Geographic Terms: Colorado; United States
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00789435
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 6 2000 12:00AM