title: Potential determinants of drink driving in young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main purposes of this study were to examine the usefulness of the variables of the theory of planned behavior (viz. attitudes, social norms, and self-efficacy) and to explore the relationship between optimism bias and drink driving in young adults. In addition, we explored gender differences in drink driving with provision for the effect of variables such as driving frequency and alcohol consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected via a questionnaire administered to 274 drivers (59.9% females) aged 18-30 years (24.36 ± 2.96).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results obtained with provision for driving frequency revealed substantial differences in driving behaviors between genders. Thus, males were more prone to drink driving, perceived less disapproval by their significant others (parents and peers), and felt less able to avoid drinking-and-driving situations. In addition, they self-reported more frequent alcohol consumption and driving under the influence. The results also confirm the significance of peers' subjective norms and attitudes to drink driving in males. Overconfidence in their own driving skills for driving drunk and perceived behavioral control were found to be significant predictors for drink driving in females. Optimism bias also played a slightly significant role in predicting drink driving but only in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The important practical implications of these results with a view to designing effective interventions to prevent the risks associated with drink driving in the young population are discussed. Interventions should focus on young people's perceptions of group norms and promoting cautionary driving choices and alternatives to drink driving.
authors.affiliation: a University of Santiago de Compostela , Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology , Santiago de Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: González-Iglesias
authors.forename: José António
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gómez-Fraguela
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobral
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012306:Risk; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D066262:Social Norms; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: drink driving; optimism bias; self-efficacy; social norms