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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]
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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 

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