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Typology of Adolescent Drinking-Drivers

NCJ Number
188884
Journal
Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: 2001 Pages: 43-58
Author(s)
Gina Stoduto; Edward M. Adlaf
Date Published
2001
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Based on a 1993 survey of Ontario (Canada) students in grades 7, 9, 11, and 13, data from students who reported driving within 1 hour of drinking two or more drinks were cluster analyzed.
Abstract
A total of 3,571 students from 25 school boards, 165 schools, and 233 classes participated. The number of drivers within the sample was 2,549, of which 419 reported driving within 1 hour of drinking two or more alcoholic drinks within the previous 12 months. The analytical sample was based on 403 students who reported drinking-driving. Based on Problem-Behavior Theory and previous research on self-reported drinking-driving among adolescents, the researchers selected 13 measures for cluster analysis. Four categories of data were used: delinquency, alcohol consumption and related problems, driving-related measures, and demographic measures. A three-cluster typology was developed; "marginals" consisted of the lowest proportion of males, lowest delinquency, alcohol use, accident involvement, drinking-driving frequency and consequence experience; "heavy drinkers" consisted of the greatest proportion of males, heaviest alcohol use, greatest driving exposure, highest drinking-driving frequency, few drinking-driving convictions, and no drinking-driving accidents; and "delinquents" consisted of the highest delinquency, accident involvement, drinking-driving accident and conviction, and least driving exposure. 2 tables, 1 figure, and 33 references