Changes in Peer Social Support, Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol Problem Severity on Psychiatric Distress in a Sample of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Offenders: A Path Analysis

Background and Purpose: DWI remains a serious and persistent problem. Research suggests individual-level factors are associated with drunk driving, especially continual drinking, and associated alcohol problems. Less is known about the level of psychiatric distress and associated factors suffered by this population. Given that many people who experience alcohol problems also have co-occurring psychopathology, understanding the factors associated with mental health concerns could provide valuable insight into the reasons why people drink and drive, informing prevention, treatment, and policy initiatives.

This study extends previous research by examining if changes in peer support influence alcohol consumption, alcohol problem severity, and psychiatric distress. It was hypothesized that significant decreases in support would have a negative relationship with all variables in the model.

Methods: Data for this analysis were part of a larger study of DWI offenders from Erie County, N.Y. A sub-sample of DWI offenders (n=443) who completed two assessments over 18 months were included in this analysis. Measures included alcohol problem severity (AUDIT, ADS, DrInC), alcohol consumption (TLFB), peer social support (identification, importance, contact frequency), and psychiatric distress (SCL-90-R global severity index (GSI)). Peer support change was calculated by subtracting baseline from 18 month follow-up. The measure of alcohol consumption and problem severity are composites of standardized scores.

 

Results: Consistent with previous research, the sample was predominately Caucasian (90.5%) males (76%; n=336), with a mean age of 32.8 (17-75). The mean peer difference score was -2.69 (SD=11.22; range: -33-38), suggesting that on average, offenders reported a decrease in the level of peer support overtime. Multivariate path analysis indicated that psychiatric distress at 18 months is only a function of alcohol problems at follow-up. Alcohol consumption at follow-up and changes in peer support have small, significant, indirect effects on psychiatric distress through alcohol problems. Model fit was good (Χ²=2.93, p=n.s.; CFI=.994; TLI=.986, SRMR=0.019, RMSEA=0.547). All paths were significant (p < .05).

Conclusion and Implications: Contrary to our hypothesis, no direct relationship was found between drinking and psychiatric distress. Additionally, no direct relationship was found between changes in peer support and psychiatric distress. However, alcohol problem severity was positively related to psychiatric distress. A positive relationship between alcohol consumption and problems was also found. Most interestingly, contrary to our expectation, we found that changes in peer support were unrelated to drinking and positively related to alcohol problems, where an increase in peer difference score is related to an increase in alcohol problem severity. Potentially, those who gain peer support become associated with peers who drink, thus increasing their own alcohol problem severity. Future research should examine the type of peers offenders have and their drinking and alcohol behaviors. Policies for DWI treatment often include groups. This may increase the likelihood of expanding their peer network to include other offenders, rather than pro-social peers. Interventions and prevention paradigms for DWI offenders should include pro-social peer training in an effort to support safe drinking and driving behaviors.  Utilizing popular social networking sites for DWI interventions could prove to be key in preventing drinking and driving.