Consumo di alcol e fattori predittivi dell’intenzione di salire in auto con conducente è in stato di ebbrezza.

Summary In literature alcohol is considered a main cause of car crushes in young adults population which underestimates the risks of drinking and driving. Several studies pointed out that alcohol consumption influences cognitive performances and has a negative correlation with safety belts fastening. Regarding gender, literature seem to suggest that drinking and driving is a more common behavior in males, while females are more likely to get into a car with a drunk driver. Even if getting on a car with a drunk driver is an obviously risky behavior, literature seems to have undervalued its importance. Considering the harmfulness of this habit, a better comprehension of its determinants seems to be important to understand this common phenomenon. Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB-Ajzen, 1991) has been widely used in risky behavior preventions. According to Ajzen, intention to perform a certain behavior can be explained by three determinants: attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioral control. The present study intended to analyze adolescents’ alcohol consumption and to investigate if the components of the TPB emerge as significant predictors of the intention to get into a car with a drunk friend. 426 students (mean age of 18) completed a questionnaire, based on Ajzen's TPB and its following developments, designed to study alcohol consumption and the determinants leading to accept a lift from a drunk driver. Results seems to confirm that social pressures influence the tendency in undervalue risks: the importance of peer norms in determining intention to get into a car with a drunk driver emerges as a crucial determinant. On the other hand, the importance ascribed to family norms seems to negatively relate with intention. Also perceived behavior control, self-esteem and risk perception significatively predict the intention to get into a car with a drunk friend. The present study suggests that a better knowledge of the passenger perspective may add data to comprehend the drink and drive phenomenon in order to prevent the behavior.