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TRAFFIC LOCUS OF CONTROL, DRIVING COGNITIONS AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS
Abstract
The first aim of the present study is to assess the relation between traffic locus of control, driving cognitions and PTSD. The second goal was to assess if the relations between traffic locus of control, driving cognitions, and PTSD are moderated by gender. A sample of 137 drivers (60.6 % were men) took place at this study. The participants mean age is 32.67 (SD = 10.74) and they had been driving for 10.02 years on average (range 042, SD = 8.22 years). The participants completed scales for measuring traffic locus of control, driving cognitions, PTSD symptoms, as well as demographic variables. The results showed that PTSD positively correlated with driving cognitions related to accidents, while the relations between PTSD symptoms and the dimensions of traffic locus of control are nonsignificant. Further, the results showed that internal locus of control and other drivers predict PTSD symptoms only for female. Religiosity and fate predict PTSD symptoms only for male. Comparing the regression weights for the path between locus of control and PTSD, the results indicated that the relation between other drivers dimension and PTSD is significantly stronger for female than for male. The implication of these results for traffic safety are discussed.
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