Abstract
This study evaluated the relation between driving cognitions (i.e. panic, accidents, and social related cognitions) and driving phobia (driving fear and driving avoidance). We also investigated the moderating role of emotional regulation strategies (i.e. expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal) in the relation between driving cognitions and driving phobia. A sample of 1401 drivers took part in this study (51.8 % men, Mage = 34.76, SD = 11.76). The participants completed scales measuring driving cognitions, emotional regulation strategies, and driving phobia, as well as demographic information. The results showed that driving cognitions are positively associated with driving fear and driving avoidance. Further, our results revealed positive relations between expressive suppression and driving fear, as well as between cognitive reappraisal and driving avoidance. Moreover, driving related cognitions interacted with emotional regulation strategies in predicting driving fear. The implications of these results for interventions and future research are discussed.
Highlights
Nonfatal injuries following motor vehicle accidents (MVCs) are well documented, with important economic and social consequences (Trógolo, Melchior, & Medrano, 2014)
Driving fear is positively associated with expressive suppression (r = .06; p = .025), while driving avoidance is positively associated with cognitive reappraisal (r = .07; p = .009)
The present study investigated the relations of driving cognitions and emotional regulation strategies with driving phobia
Summary
Nonfatal injuries following motor vehicle accidents (MVCs) are well documented, with important economic and social consequences (Trógolo, Melchior, & Medrano, 2014). Individuals who drive despite their fear committee different traffic errors and engage in maladaptive traffic behaviors (e.g., attentional lapses, slowing for green lights, aggressive violations, driving far below the speed limit) that may place themselves and other traffic participants at risk of accidents (Clapp, Baker, Litwack, Sloan, & Beck, 2014). Evidence of these negative consequences supports the necessity of investigating the factors associated with driving phobia
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