A cross-sectional survey of a population-representative sample of 785 Australian drinkers was used to identify associations between aspect of individuals' peer environments and the likelihood of them reporting drink driving. Multivariate analyses showed that drink drivers perceived that a larger proportion of their drinking friends are drink drivers and were less likely to perceive that their friends disapprove of drink driving. A covariance analysis suggested that the belief that friend would disapprove may play a mediating role in the relationship between personal drink driving and that of peers. These findings suggest that peer group normative processes are associated with drink driving. (A)
Abstract