Anxiety and depression linked to risk taking in young drivers

 Young drivers who experience anxiety and depression are more likely to take risks on the road, according to a recent study by Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q).

The study of more than 760 young drivers, who were on their provisional licence, found anxiety and depression accounted for 8.5% of the risky driving behaviour reported by these young adults, said Scott-Parker. The results of the research led by CARRS-Q PhD scholar Bridie Scott-Parker have been published in the international journal Injury Prevention.

"The association was greater in women than in men, with 9.5% being explained by psychological distress in women compared with 6.7% in men," she said.

"We already know that psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, has been linked to risky behaviour in adolescents including unprotected sex, smoking and high alcohol consumption.

What this study sought to do was look at whether or not psychological distress could also be linked to risky driving behaviours in young people, such as speeding, not wearing a seat belt and using a mobile phone while at the wheel."

The research, said Scott-Parker, could be used to identify young drivers most at risk of psychological distress and therefore a greater crash risk on the road through risky driving. Up until now the relationship between novice risky driving behaviour and psychological distress had not been clearly identified or quantified, she said. To read more on this research, visit http://eprints.qut.edu.au/41719/.