Driving under the influence of alcohol and perceived invulnerability among young adults: An extension of the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

This study tested a modified version of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), in driving under the influence of alcohol that incorporated past behavior and perceived invulnerability in a sample of young French adults. Participants (n = 368, Mean Age = 23.29, SD = 3.69, Age Range 18–35) completed self-report measures of sense of invulnerability, subjective norms attitude, perceived control, intention to drive and drink, and past behavior. This extended model was able to explain 52% of the variance of behavioral intention. In accordance with the TPB, the intention to drink and drive was predicted by Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), Subjective Norms, Past behavior and Attitudes. The effect of perceived invulnerability on the three determinants of TPB was significant. Psychological invulnerability had a direct influence on Attitudes, Danger Invulnerability on PBC and Interpersonal Invulnerability on Attitude and PCB. The current study provides support for the importance of the sense of invulnerability to traffic risk-taking in young adults.