Research - Joel W. Grube, Ph.D. - "Prospective Study of Underage Drinking and Driving Behaviors"

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Driving under the influence (DUI) and riding with drinking drivers (RWDD) are serious problems for adolescents and young adults. Thus, prevention of these behaviors should be a high priority. There is only a limited understanding, however, of the factors that underlie underage DUI and RWDD or how these factors mediate gender and ethnic differences in these behaviors. In addition, most research has been cross-sectional in nature. Although such research can identify important correlates of underage DUI and RWDD, it cannot adequately address issues of causality. This study undertakes a two-wave panel random-digit-dial (RDD) telephone survey of 600 15-20-year-old adolescents and young adults with a 24-month lag between panels. Semi-structured interviews with 75 young people from the first wave of the survey also will be undertaken. The five-year study has five specific objectives:

Provide systematic data on the prevalence of DUI and RWDD in a random sample of young people. By using a RDD telephone survey procedure, the study will include adolescents who are commonly excluded from other studies.
Identify correlates of underage DUI and RWDD and model involvement in these behaviors cross-sectionally using latent variable structural equations modeling. These analyses will provide initial tests of a conceptual model of DUI and RWDD.

Explore differences in the extent of involvement in underage DUI and RWDD among young men and women and among major ethnic groups (African Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans, and Latinos) and ascertain why differences, if they are found, occur and how these differences are mediated through more immediate beliefs and risk behaviors.
Identify important environmental and social differences between drinking occasions resulting in DUI or RWDD and drinking occasions not resulting in DUI or RWDD. This information will have significant implications for environmental approaches to prevention of these behaviors.
Model changes in DUI and RWDD over time to gain a better understanding of the social-psychological and environmental factors that underlie the development of these behaviors, their relative predictive importance, and the extent to which they directly influence DUI and RWDD or are mediated through more immediate variables.