The authors present the results of an evaluation of a model of causal relationships to explain the intention to drive under the influence of alcohol structurally similar to the Theory of Reasoned Action. They establish that the attitude toward driving under the influence of alcohol, the intensity of the subjective norm related to this behaviour, and the motivation to comply with this same subjective norm, are the three factors that explain the intention to drive under the influence of alcohol, the interaction between the latter two not having any significant influence on the intention. Furthermore, the attitude toward driving under the influence of alcohol is explained by a factor which saturates significantly, and in a positive way, the relative beliefs about the risk of suffering a traffic accident and losing control of the vehicle, and in a negative way, the relative beliefs about how pleasurable it is to carry out this behaviour, the time saved compared to taking some form of public transport, and the convenience of not depending on anyone and not worrying about finding other means of transport. The relevant parameter is the intensity with which the individual holds these beliefs, without the intervention of the evaluation of the attributes referred to. The intensity of the subjective norm is explained by another qualitative factor different from that previously mentioned, which integrates the five specific motivations to comply with spouse, with friends, with relatives, with brothers and sisters and with the mother. In these three cases, the measurement of these factors is supported by the results of the confirmatory factorial analysis carried out previously. Although the results of the path analysis indicate that the hypothesis causal relationships are statistically significant, the specified model is not adequate to describe globally how the data obtained in the study are related.
Abstract