The effects of instruction and environmental demand on state anxiety, driving performance and autonomic activity: Are ego-threatening manipulations effective?

M.P Barnard,P Chapman

doi:10.1016/j.trf.2018.02.040

Abstract

A small yet emerging body of research on the relationship between anxiety and driving suggests that higher levels of state anxiety may lead to more dangerous driving behaviours. The aim of the current research was to investigate the effects of increased state anxiety on driving behaviours within a simulated environment using instructional sets to manipulate anxiety levels. In Study One, whilst a set of safety-related instructions were able to increase state anxiety, this did not result in changes to driving behaviours. In Study Two, ego-threatening instructions were not able to successfully increase state anxiety. This has implications regarding instructional sets in research, including their task relevance and the necessity for a motivational incentive. However, when changes in anxiety were considered regardless of instruction group, Study Two found changes in SDLP and skin conductance levels related to state anxiety increases. As these effects were context specific, it is argued that some of these changes may be due to poorer processing efficiency, leading to suggestions about the types of behaviours that may need to be trained in potential therapies for those who show high state anxiety levels whilst driving.

Highlights

Recent research has shown that emotions can play a significant role in increasing the likelihood of dangerous driving behaviours and crashes
The main significant finding from Study One was that using safety-related instructions successfully increased state anxiety levels in participants
This finding supports the growing body of research that encourages the use of instructional sets to increase levels of anxiety

Summary

Introduction

Recent research has shown that emotions can play a significant role in increasing the likelihood of dangerous driving behaviours and crashes. It has been consistently suggested that increases in anger can lead to a greater likelihood of aggressive behaviours (Deffenbacher, Huff, Lynch, Oetting, & Salvatore, 2000), which can include physical violence and verbal aggression. It has been associated with less safe driving behaviours (Deffenbacher, Lynch, Filetti, Dahlen, & Oetting, 2003) and an increase in traffic violations and fines (Gonzalez-Iglesias, Antonio Gomez-Fraguela, & Angeles Luengo-Martin, 2012). Anxiety is described as a feeling of tension or unease at the prospect of a threatening, but not guaranteed, event (Rachmann, 2013) It can be measured and researched as a clinically diagnosed disorder, as a general trait, or as a state. Changes in those who are more anxious, in comparison to other negative emotions, include greater attentional biases towards threat

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