Cognitions regarding drinking and driving have been shown to be predictive of drinking and driving behavior in adolescents. However, no studies have assessed these variables in adolescents who have not begun to drive. As cognitions about a behavior form prior to engaging in that behavior, measuring cognitions of non-driving adolescents can be a crucial step in improving our understanding of how these cognitions develop. The proposed project will explore relationships among a variety of cognitions about drinking, driving, and drinking and driving, behavior. Data will be collected from two samples of adolescents - one of licensed drivers, and one of adolescents who have not obtained a drivers' license. The non-licensed group is hypothesized to have more negative cognitions concerning drinking and driving, and more positive cognitions about alternatives to drinking and driving. A model of the relationships among these cognitive risk variables and their relationship with drinking and driving behavior will be estimated. Finally, mediating and moderating models will also be tested. This research is intended to provide data critical to the theoretical model of the role of cognitions on drinking and driving, and to lay the groundwork for a larger program of research to track changes in these cognitions longitudinally. Improving our understanding of the development of these cognitive risk variables can have important implications for prevention and intervention programs, particularly for programs focused on drivers-in-training.
| McCarthy, Denis M; Pedersen, Sarah L (2009) Reciprocal associations between drinking-and-driving behavior and cognitions in adolescents. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 70:536-42 |
| Pedersen, Sarah L; McCarthy, Denis M (2008) Person-environment transactions in youth drinking and driving. Psychol Addict Behav 22:340-8 |
| McCarthy, Denis M; Lynch, Andrea M; Pederson, Sarah L (2007) Driving after use of alcohol and marijuana in college students. Psychol Addict Behav 21:425-30 |
| McCarthy, Denis M; Thompsen, Dana M (2006) Implicit and explicit measures of alcohol and smoking cognitions. Psychol Addict Behav 20:436-44 |
| McCarthy, Denis M; Pedersen, Sarah L; Thompsen, Dana M et al. (2006) Development of a measure of drinking and driving expectancies for youth. Psychol Assess 18:155-64 |
| McCarthy, Denis M; Tomlinson, Kristin L; Anderson, Kristen G et al. (2005) Relapse in alcohol- and drug-disordered adolescents with comorbid psychopathology: changes in psychiatric symptoms. Psychol Addict Behav 19:28-34 |
| McCarthy, Denis M; Pedersen, Sarah L; Leuty, Melanie E (2005) Negative consequences and cognitions about drinking and driving. J Stud Alcohol 66:567-70 |
| McCarthy, Denis M; Brown, Sandra A (2004) Changes in alcohol involvement, cognitions and drinking and driving behavior for youth after they obtain a driver's license. J Stud Alcohol 65:289-96 |
