Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T01:01:19.923Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Predicting Alcohol-Impaired Driving among Spanish Youth with the Theory of Reasoned Action

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2015

José P. Espada ,
Kenneth W. Griffin ,
María T. Gonzálvez  and
Mireia Orgilés
José P. Espada
Affiliation:
Universidad Miguel Hernández (Spain)
Kenneth W. Griffin
Affiliation:
Weill Cornell Medical College (USA)
María T. Gonzálvez*
Affiliation:
Universidad Miguel Hernández (Spain)
Mireia Orgilés
Affiliation:
Universidad Miguel Hernández (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to María T. Gonzálvez. Department of Health Psychology. Universidad Miguel Hernández. Av. de la Universidad, s/n. 03202. Elche, Alicante (Spain). Phone: +34–966658344. Fax: 34–966658904. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for motor vehicle accidents in young drivers. Crashes associated with alcohol consumption typically have greater severity. This study examines the prevalence of driving under the influence among Spanish youth and tests the theory of reasoned action as a model for predicting driving under the influence. Participants included 478 Spanish university students aged 17–26 years. Findings indicated that alcohol was the substance most associated with impaired driving, and was involved in more traffic crashes. Men engage in higher levels of alcohol and other drug use, and perceived less risk in drunk driving (p < .01). The study confirms that alcohol use and driving under the influence of alcohol are highly prevalent in Spanish young people, and some gender differences exist in these behaviors (p < .01). Furthermore, the study confirms the validity of theory of reasoned action as a predictive model of driving under the influence of alcohol among youth in Spain (p < .001) and can help in the design of prevention programs.

Keywords

traffic accidentsyouthalcohol usedrinking and drivingtheory of reasoned action
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 18 , 2015 , E43
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs. NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Álvarez, F. J., & del Río, M. C. (2001). Alcohol y accidentes de tráfico: ¿Prevenir de qué? [Alcohol and road accidents: What to prevent?]. Trastornos Adictivos, 3, 172–180. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1575-0973(01)70030-X CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beaver, K. M., & Barnes, J. C. (2012). Genetic and nonshared environmental factors affect the likelihood of being charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI). Addictive Behaviors, 37, 1377–1381. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.06.012 Google Scholar
Calafat, A., Adrover, D., Juan, M., & Blay, N. T. (2008). Relación del consumo de alcohol y drogas de los jóvenes españoles con la siniestralidad vial durante la vida recreativa nocturna en tres comunidades autónomas en 2007 [Relationship between alcohol, drug use and traffic accidents related to nightlife among a Spanish youth sample in three autonomous communities in 2007]. Revista Española de Salud Pública, 82, 323–331.Google Scholar
Calvete, E., & Estévez, A. (2009). Consumo de drogas en adolescentes: El papel del estrés, la impulsividad y los esquemas relacionados con la falta de límites [Substance use in adolescents: The role of stress, impulsivity, and schemas related to lack of limits]. Adicciones, 21, 49–56.Google Scholar
Chou, S. P., Dawson, D. A., Stinson, F. S., Huang, B., Pickering, R. P., Zhou, Y., & Grant, B. F. (2006). The prevalence of drinking and driving in the United States, 2001–2002: Results from the national epidemiological survey on alcohol and related conditions. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 83, 137–146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2005.11.001 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cortés, M. T., Espejo, B., Giménez, J. A., Luque, L., Gómez, R., & Motos, P. (2011). Creencias asociadas al consumo intensivo de alcohol entre adolescentes [Beliefs associated with intensive alcohol consumption among adolescents]. Health and Addictions, 11, 179–202.Google Scholar
del Río, M. C. (2002). Alcohol, jóvenes y accidentes de tráfico [Young people, alcohol and driving]. Trastornos Adictivos, 4, 20–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
del Río, M. C., Gómez, J., Sancho, M., & Álvarez, F. J. (2002). Alcohol, illicit drugs and medicinal drugs in fatally injured drivers in Spain between 1991 and 2000. Forensic Science International, 127, 63–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0379-0738(02)00116-0 Google Scholar
Dhami, M. K., Mandel, D. R., & García-Retamero, R. (2010). Canadian and Spanish youths’ risk perceptions of drinking and driving, and riding with a drunk driver. International Journal of Psychology, 46, 81–90.Google Scholar
Dirección General de Tráfico (2011). Las principales cifras de la siniestralidad vial. España 2010 [The main figures of road accidents. Spain 2010] . Madrid, Spain: Author.Google Scholar
Espada, J. P., Griffin, K. W., Carballo, J. L., & McCarthy, D. M. (2012). Spanish adaptation of the Positive Expectancies for Drinking and Driving for Youth (PEDD-Y). The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 15, 1495–1502. http://dx.doi.org/10.5209/rev_SJOP.2012.v15.n3.39433 Google Scholar
Espada, J. P., Méndez, X., Botvin, G. J., Griffin, K. W., Orgilés, M., & Rosa, A. I. (2002). ¿Éxito o fracaso de la prevención del abuso de drogas en el contexto escolar? Un meta-análisis de los programas en España [Success or failure of school-based drug prevention? A meta-analysis of the programs in Spain]. Psicología Conductual, 10, 581–602.Google Scholar
European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2013). European Drug Report: Trends and developments. Lëtzebuerg: Luxembourg. Publications Office of the European Union.Google Scholar
Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison, Wesley.Google Scholar
Hingson, R., Heeren, T., Levenson, S., Jamanka, A., & Voas, R. (2002). Age of drinking onset, driving after drinking, and involvement in alcohol related motor-vehicle crashes. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 34, 85–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0001-4575(01)00002-1 Google Scholar
Lewis, T. F., Thombs, D. L., & Olds, R. S. (2005). Profiles of alcohol and marijuana impaired adolescent drivers. Addiction Research and Theory, 13, 145–154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16066350512331328096 Google Scholar
Maldonado-Molina, M. M., Reingle, J. M., Delcher, C., & Branchini, J. (2011). The role of parental alcohol consumption on driving under the influence of alcohol: Results from a longitudinal, nationally representative sample. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 43, 2182–2187. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2011.06.012 Google Scholar
Malta, L. S., Blanchard, E. B., & Freidenberg, B. M. (2005). Psychiatric and behavioral problems in aggressive drivers. Behavior Research and Therapy, 43, 1467–1484. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2004.11.004 Google Scholar
Mayhew, D., Ferguson, S. A., Desmond, K. J., & Simpson, H. M. (2003). Trends in fatal crashes involving female drivers, 1975–1998. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 35, 407–415. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0001-4575(02)00019-2 Google Scholar
Meneses, C., Romo, N., Uroz, J., Gil, E., Markez, I., Giménez, S., & Vega, A. (2009). Adolescencia, consumo de drogas y comportamientos de riesgo: Diferencias por sexo, etnicidad y áreas geográficas en España [Adolescence, drug use and risk behavior: Sex, ethnicity and geographical area differences in Spain]. Trastornos Adictivos, 11, 51–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1575-0973(09)71380-7 Google Scholar
Muilenburg, J. L., Johnson, W. D., Usdan, S. L., Annang, L., & Clayton, D. L. (2007). Prevalence of impaired driving behaviors in a diverse, rural, southern middle school. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 39, 1080–1087. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2007.02.004 Google Scholar
Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2006). Mplus user’s guide. Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.Google Scholar
Orgaz Gallego, M. P., Segovia Jimenez, M., López de Castro, F., & Tricio, M. A. (2005). Consumo de alcohol en escolares toledanos: Motivos y alternativas [Alcohol consumption in Toledo schoolchildren: Reasons and alternatives]. Atención Primaria, 36, 297–305. http://dx.doi.org/10.1157/13079862 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (2012). Alcohol y otras drogas incompatibles con la conducción. Lo que tienes que saber [Alcohol and other substances incompatible with driving. What you need to know] . Madrid, Spain: Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo.Google Scholar
Salamó, A., Gras, M. E., & Font-Mayolas, S. (2010). Patrones de consumo de alcohol en la adolescencia [Alcohol consumption patterns in adolescence]. Psicothema, 22, 189–195.Google Scholar
Scandurra, R., García-Altés, A., & Nebot, M. (2011). Impacto social del consumo abusivo de alcohol en el estado Español. Consumo, coste y políticas [Social impact of abusive alcohol consumption in Spain. Consumption, cost and policies]. Revista Española de Salud Pública, 85, 141–147.Google Scholar
Schell, T. L., Chan, K. S., & Morral, A. R. (2006). Predicting DUI recidivism: Personality, attitudinal and behavioral risk factors. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 82, 33–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2005.08.006 Google Scholar
Schwartz, J. (2008). Gender differences in drunk driving prevalence rates and trends: A 20-year assessment using multiple sources of evidence. Addictive Behaviors, 33, 1217–1222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.03.014 Google Scholar
Steptoe, A., Wardle, J., Bages, N., Sallis, J. F., Sanabria-Ferrand, P. A., & Sánchez, M. (2004). Drinking and driving in university students: An international study of 23 countries. Psychology & Health, 19, 527–540. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08870440310001616542 Google Scholar
Tomas Dols, S., Álvarez González, F. J., Llorens Aleixandre, N., Vidal-Infer, A., Torrijo Rodrigo, M. J., & Valderrama-Zurián, J. C. (2010). Predictors of driving after alcohol and drug use among adolescents in Valencia (Spain). Accident Analysis & Prevention, 42, 2024–2029. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2010.06.013 Google Scholar
Waylen, A. E., & McKenna, F. P. (2008). Risky attitudes towards road use in pre-drivers. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 40, 905–911. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2007.10.005 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zakrajsek, J. S., & Shope, J. T. (2006). Longitudinal examination of underage drinking and subsequent drinking and risky driving. Journal of Safety Research, 37, 443–451. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2006.06.002 Google Scholar
Zaldívar, F., López, F., García, J. M., & Molina, A. (2011). Consumo autoinformado de alcohol y otras drogas en población universitaria española [Self- reported consumption of alcohol and other drugs in the university population]. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 9, 113–132.Google Scholar