Risk for alcohol-related accidents in divorced and separated women

The relationship between marital status and risk for alcohol-related automobile accidents was examined in 10,544 subjects (12% women) who entered 28 driver alcohol education programs over a 6-month period in 1983. Women were more likely than men to be divorced or separated (28 vs 16%). In their marital category, women were younger than men and were more likely to be living alone with their children. The findings implicate the role of lifestyle factors in the development and maintenance of alcohol-related problems, and suggest that women in driver alcohol education programs may require more help than men because they have less social support.