A psychosocial comparison of drunken drivers and alcoholics.

Abstract

A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess a number of demographic, drinking and psychosocial characteristics of 306 men (group D) convicted of driving while intoxicated, 289 men alcoholics (group A) and 302 men who were renewing their driver licenses (group L). Group A members drank alcoholic beverages more often and in larger quantities per occasion than group L, drank more to relieve tension than for social relaxation, experienced more troublesome than comfortable effects from drinking, had more family and job problems and used more sleeping pills and tranquilizers. Group A was less responsible than group L, had less self-control and self-esteem, had a more external locus of control and were more paranoid, aggressive, depressed and suicidal. Group D scored between groups A and L on drinking patterns, motivation for drinking and perceived consequences of drinking. On most other measures group D was similar to group L, with both significantly different from group A, except that subjects in group D were significantly less responsible, had less self-esteem and were more paranoid and aggressive than group L, though their mean scores were less extreme than those of group A. The results were compared by age (less than 30, 30-44 and 45 and older). No differences were found in group L. In group A, those 45 and older were more responsible than the younger group A members, and were significantly less depressed, paranoid, suicidal, aggressive and had fewer problems with their families and at work than those aged 30-44. No consistent pattern by age was found in group D. On the brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) 99% of group A and 39% of group D scored 6 or more, and 19% of group D scored 5. There was no relation between age and MAST scores in group D. Those in group D who scored 6 or more on the MAST scores were similar to group A but less extreme; and the low MAST scorers were closer to group A than L on drinking for tension relief, troublesome effects from drinking, less responsibility, low self-esteem and paranoid thinking. Group D was comprised of 1 group of men who were alcoholic on the basis of their MAST scores and other responses, and another group who appeared to be potential alcoholics in that they were significantly different from group L.