The role of emotional maturity in drinking and driving involvement among college graduate students aged 25-34

Date Issued
June 1, 1981
Author(s)
Boyd, Neal Richard
Advisor(s)
Warren J. Huffman
Additional Advisor(s)
K. Owen McCullough
Adelbert F. Thompson
Bill C. Wallace
Permanent URI
Abstract
The role of emotional maturity in drinking and driving involvement among college graduate students aged 25-34 was investigated by using the variables of sex, age broken down into the age groups of 25-29 and 30-34, and drinking and driving category. The Revised Huffman Inventory, an Inventory of emotional immaturity, was administered to graduate students enrolled at The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, during the Summer of 1980. A book of random numbers was used to obtain a random sample of 326 subjects. Responses to the Inventory were scored by hand and then computer cards were punched with sex, age, drinking and driving category, and the Inventory score for the purposes of statistical analysis. Additional descriptive data were computed by hand. A three factor analysis of variance was used to test the null hypotheses in a one tail test at the 0.05 level of significance under the Statistical Analysis System at The University of Tennessee Computing Center Services at Knoxville. If a difference among groups were significant, Duncan's Multiple Range Test was applied to determine where those were.

The following significant differences in mean scores were found:

1. Females had a significantly higher emotional maturity mean score than did males.

2. The 30-34 age group had a significantly higher emotional maturity mean score than did the 25-29 age group.

3. The group, persons who drank but were not drinking drivers, had a significantly higher emotional maturity mean score than did the group, drinking drivers who had had an accident after driving.

4. The group, persons who drank but were not drinking drivers, had a significantly higher emotional maturity mean score than did the group, drinking drivers who had at least three non-drinking accidents in a five year period.

5. The group, non-drinkers who drove, had a significantly higher emotional maturity mean score than did the group, drinking drivers who had had an accident after drinking.

6. The group, non-drinkers who drove, had a significantly higher emotional maturity mean score than did the group, drinking divers who had had at least three non-drinking accidents in a five year period.

7. The group, drinking drivers who were accident free, had a significantly higher emotional maturity mean score than the group, drinking drivers who had had at least three non-drinking accidents in a five year period.

Three conclusions were based on the findings:

Among females and males of the same age grouping, females are more emotionally mature than males. Age is a factor in emotional maturity in that as age increases so does emotional maturity. There appears to be a link between emotional maturity and drinking and driving involvement in that persons with lower emotional maturity are more likely to drive while under the influence of alcohol.

Degree
Doctor of Education
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