NCJ Number
126353
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1989) Pages: 21-32
Date Published
1989
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The current study uses several personality measures and attitude scales with adolescent drivers to test validity in separating groups with and without DWI offenses and to test the measures' utility in predicting which young drivers are at risk for DWI, based on known personality factors and coping styles.
Abstract
A questionnaire consisting of four inventories assessing anger/hostility, powerlessness, impulsiveness, stressful life events and alcohol effects on emotional expression was completed by 152 adolescent drivers with a mean age of 17.8 years. The 152 subjects were divided into three groups: group 1, high school students without DWI offenses; group 2, 16 to 21 year old DWI offenders; and group 3, juvenile offenders without DWI citations. The results are presented in seven tables and show that, as with adults, personality traits and expectations regarding the effects of alcohol may be associated with DWI and dangerous driving among youth and are likely to be important predictors of DWI with young drivers not yet cited or involved in a DWI. Adolescent DWI offenders and juvenile delinquents manifest considerably more anger/hostility, more often endorse feelings of powerlessness over their environment, have more negative life events than high school drivers without DWI offenses, and feel as though alcohol makes them more aggressive, daring, unafraid, and loud than the non-offenders. Understanding these personality traits and their relationship to dangerous driving can lead to better designed preventive DWI programs. 7 tables and 33 references (Author abstract modified)