A Study of Alcohol Use by Designated Drivers Among College Students |
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Authors: | Sarah S. Dermody MS JeeWon Cheong PhD Christine A. Walther MS |
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Affiliation: | Department of Psychology , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania |
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Abstract: | Abstract Objective: College students tend to drink while serving as a designated driver (DD). The predictors of alcohol use by DDs among college students were examined. Participants: Participants were 119 undergraduate students in introductory psychology courses who had experience with DD use. Methods: Survey data were analyzed to examine the predictors of planning components of DD use, such as choosing a DD before drinking and choosing an abstinent DD, and the relations of these components to alcohol use by DDs. Results: History of DD use, friends’ willingness to be the DD, frequency of riding with a driver who drank and drove, and age of drinking onset were associated with planning components of DD use. Among the planning components of DD use, choosing a DD before drinking was significantly related to less alcohol use by DDs. Conclusions: Increasing awareness of the planning components of DD use could deter alcohol use by DDs among college students. |
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Keywords: | alcohol college students designated driver drinking and driving risky behaviors |
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