STRESS-RELATED FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED

Numerous studies have indicated that increased exposure to stressors i s associated with increased alcohol consumption. One potential complic ation of increased alcohol consumption is being arrested for driving w hile intoxicated (DWI). The present study investigated the types of ps ychosocial stressors that 498 DWI offenders had been exposed to prior to their arrest. Results indicated that DWI arrestees were more likely to have experienced certain types of stressors in the previous year t han would be expected in the general population. Implications for theo ry and treatment are discussed.