Why do they do it? A qualitative study of adolescent drinking and driving

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Psychology
• Traffic Safety

Background:

• Underage drinking and driving (DD) and riding with drinking drivers (RWDD) remain critical public health concerns despite recent declines in fatal crashes.
• Adolescent involvement in DD and RWDD necessitates understanding the underlying decision-making processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively investigate the influence of adolescent beliefs and expectancies on their decisions to engage in drinking and driving or riding with drinking drivers.
• To identify factors contributing to adolescent participation in DD and RWDD behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 44 adolescents previously involved in DD or RWDD.
• Interviews conducted in 2000 explored personal experiences with driving after drinking or being a passenger with an impaired driver.

Main Results:

• Adolescent DD and RWDD are complex behaviors influenced by multiple factors.
• Expectancies and control beliefs did not significantly impact decisions regarding DD or RWDD.
• Normative beliefs demonstrated a partial influence on adolescents' engagement in these behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Normative beliefs play a role in adolescent decisions related to drinking and driving.
• Increased enforcement of laws is a potentially effective strategy for preventing adolescent involvement in DD and RWDD.
• Understanding the nuances of adolescent decision-making is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.