WED-058 - Applying Theory of Planned Behavior to Examine College Students’ Distracted Driving

Brief Abstract Summary: Discover how the Theory of Planned Behavior may be applied to understand college students' distracted driving behaviors. The CDC estimates 10% of all vehicle fatalities are a result of distracted driving with teens and young adults demonstrating the highest risk. This presentation will help participants recognize the relationship of past and current distracted driving behaviors, specifically sending and receiving text messages, to attitudes, intention, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), group norm beliefs, and moral norm beliefs. Results indicate that attitudes, intention, PBC, and group norms are associated with both sending and receiving texts while driving. Moral norms are associated with receiving, but not sending texts. Considering the increased risks of distracted driving and vehicle-related fatality among young adults, public health interventions should develop strategies targeting the behavioral constructs most associated with distracted driving behaviors.

Detailed abstract description:

Objectives: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 10% of all vehicle fatalities are a result of distracted driving with teens and young adults ranking as the group at greatest risk. The purpose of this study was to explore how constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior may predict distracted driving behaviors among U.S. college students.

Methods: A total sample of 795 college students completed an anonymous online survey administered via email during the spring and summer 2024. Survey items measured intention, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), group norm beliefs, moral norm beliefs, past behaviors, and current behaviors. Bivariate correlations were calculated to determine relationships between factors associated with sending SMS messages while driving and receiving SMS messages while driving. Two sperate hierarchical linear regression models were conducted to identify factors associated with college students sending SMS messages while driving and receiving SMS messages while driving. An alpha of < 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Beta weights and structure coefficients were analyzed to determine which factors contributed the most to each model’s variance.

Results: Attitudes (β = .431, p < .001), intention (β = .249, p < .001), PBC (β = -.064, p = .007) and group norms (β = .118, p < .001) were positively associated with college students sending SMS messages while driving. In assessing the squared structure coefficients, attitudes, intention, and group norms positively accounted for 46%, 27%, and 13% of the variance respectively. Perceived behavioral control negatively accounted for 7% of the variance in the final model. Attitudes (β = .428, p < .001), intention (β = .256, p < .001), PBC (β = -.078, p = .007), group norms (β = .098, p < .001), and moral norms (β = .098, p < .041) were associated with college students receiving SMS messages while driving. Attitudes, intention, and group norms positively accounted for 45%, 27% and 10% of the variance respectively. PBC and moral norms negatively accounted for 8% and 6% of the variance respectively.

Conclusions: Among college students, attitudes, intention, PBC, and group norms are associated with both sending and receiving texts while driving. Moral norms are associated with receiving, but not sending texts. Considering the increased risks of distracted driving and vehicle-related fatality among this young adult population, public health interventions should develop strategies targeting the behavioral constructs most associated with distracted driving behaviors.