Analyzing Predictors Of Drinking And Driving Among Gender Cohorts Within A College Sample

Keywords

Driving under the influence; Gender differences; Low self-control; Social learning

Abstract

The current study focuses on predominant predictors associated with men’s and women’s engagement in driving under the influence (DUI) in an attempt to determine whether gender-specific interventions would be more affective at reducing impaired vehicle operation. A male-only subsample (n = 863) and a female-only subsample (n = 975) from a survey administered at a large Southeastern university containing self-reported measures of DUI were used to evaluate gender differences in motivations and correlates of DUI behavior. A series of logistic regressions containing indicators drawn from theories of deviant behavior (e.g., Akers’ social learning theory (SLT) and Gottfredson and Hirshi’s low self-control (LSC) theory) yield results indicating that differential association and imitation, both factors associated with SLT, are significant predictors for both gender cohorts’ DUI behavior. Low self- control was a significant predictor within female-only models, but not the final male-only models. This suggests that peer associations and modeling may be targets of intervention generally, but that, as it relates to DUIs, women may particularly benefit from programs focused at limiting impulsivity and risk-taking behavior as these are components of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s LSC construct.

Publication Date

12-1-2018

Publication Title

American Journal of Criminal Justice

Volume

43

Issue

4

Number of Pages

754-767

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-017-9431-5

Socpus ID

85039717580 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85039717580

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS