Term of Award

Summer 2016

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Social Sciences (M.A.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Committee Chair

Bryan Miller

Committee Member 1

John Stogner

Committee Member 2

Chad Posick

Committee Member 3

Brenda Blackwell

Abstract

The current study focuses on predominant predictors associated with each gender cohort’s engagement in driving under the influence (DUI). Aker’s social learning theory, Gottfredson and Hirshi’s low self-control theory, and Agnew’s strain theory are utilized to explore differences within two separate step-wise logistic regressions; one set of regressions contain a male only sample (n = 855), while the other model contains a female only sample (n = 968). This study uses self-report measures of DUI from a survey administered at a large Southeastern university focusing on risk-taking behaviors. Results indicate that social learning variables differential association and imitation are significant predictors for both gender cohorts’ DUI behavior. Also, although low self-control was a significant predictor within all female-only models, it was only a significant predictor in the male-only models when separate from the other theoretical variables. Likewise, strain was a significant predictor when separated, but was insignificant when included in the final models. Policies and future research are discussed.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

Yes

Download

Included in

Criminology Commons

Share

COinS