Developmental patterns of drunk/high driving among juvenile offenders: the role of peer group assortment based on self-control

Abstract

ABSTRACTDrunk/high driving presents a public health problem. Despite issues caused by this behavior, there is a dearth of research focused on studying this phenomenon developmentally. This study seeks to examine heterogeneity in developmental patterns of drunk/high driving. Beyond this, there has been little examination of the relevance of social learning and self-control concepts for understanding this behavior. This study uses all waves of data from the Pathways to Desistance study. Group-based trajectory modeling is used to describe heterogeneity in general patterns of development of this outcome. Multinomial logistic regression is used to determine the relevance of self-control and deviant peer association at baseline for predicting trajectory group assignment. Results indicate that a six-group model best fits the data. Self-control predicted assignment to the Low Chronic, Adolescent Limited, and Late Desisting groups. Deviant peer association fully mediated these effects. Implications are discussed.