Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
##common.pageHeaderLogo.altText##
Projects and researches
DOI: 10.47040/sd/sdpsych.v13i2.153
Submitted: 2023-01-25
Published: 2022-11-01

The Role of Coping Strategies in the Relationship between Anger and Risky Driving Behavior

University of Bucharest
anger road rage risk taking risky driving behavior coping mechanisms

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the moderating role of coping mechanisms in the relationship between anger and risky driving behaviour in professional drivers and implicitly, investigate the associations between the concept of road rage and risky driving behaviour on one hand and between risk taking as a personality trait and the manifestation of risk behaviour behind the wheel on the other. The moderating role of coping mechanisms in the relationship between risk taking and risky driving behaviour was also studied in this paper. The study involved 81 participants, professional drivers, both male (58) and female (23), aged between 19 and 59 (M = 37.77, SD = 12.13). The instruments used were The Aggression Questionnaire, The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, The Jackson Personality Inventory – Risk Taking and The Freight Driving Behaviour Questionnaire. The results showed that both anger and risk taking explained a significant percentage of the risky driving behaviour and were also positively associated with it. At the same time, the results obtained from the moderating analyzes implied that maladaptive coping mechanisms have a moderating role in the relationship between anger and risky driving behaviour, but the adaptive ones did not. Nor the adaptive neither the maladaptive strategies had a significant moderating role in the relationship between risk taking and risky driving behaviour. The conclusions of this study highlighted the theoretical and practical implications of risk related research in matter of developing occupational safety programs and increasing awarness about factors that may influence the manifestation of risky driving behaviour in an organizational environment.

References

  1. Abdu, R., Shinar, D., & Meiran, N. (2012). Situational (state) anger and driving. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 15(5), 575-580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2012.05.007
  2. Aron, A. R., Robbins, T. W., & Poldrack, R. A. (2004). Inhibition and the right inferior frontal cortex. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 8, 170–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2004.02.010
  3. Ben-Zur, H., & Reshef-Kfir, Y. (2003). Risk taking and coping strategies among Israeli adolescents. Journal of adolescence, 26(3), 255-265. doi:10.1016/S0140-1971(03)00016- 2
  4. Brown, T. G., Ouimet, M. C., Eldeb, M., Tremblay, J., Vingilis, E., Nadeau, L., ... & Bechara, A. (2016).
  5. Personality, executive control, and neurobiological characteristics associated with different forms of risky driving. PloS one 11(2), e0150227. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150227
  6. Buss, A. H., & Perry, M. (1992). The aggression questionnaire. Journal of personality and social
  7. psychology, 63(3), 452.
  8. Capowich, G. E., Mazerolle, P., & Piquero, A. (2001). General strain theory, situational anger, and social networks: An assessment of conditioning influences. Journal of Criminal Justice, 29(5), 445-461. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0047-2352(01)00101-5
  9. Carver, C. S., & Harmon-Jones, E. (2009). Anger is an approach-related affect: Evidence and implications. Psychological Bulletin, 135(2), 183–204. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013965
  10. Dahlen, E. R., Martin, R. C., Ragan, K., & Kuhlman, M. M. (2005). Driving anger, sensation seeking, impulsiveness, and boredom proneness in the prediction of unsafe driving. Accident analysis & prevention, 37(2), 341-348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2004.10.006
  11. Dariotis, J. K., & Chen, F. R. (2020). Stress Coping Strategies as Mediators: Toward a Better Understanding of Sexual, Substance, and Delinquent Behavior-Related Risk-Taking among Transition-Aged Youth. Deviant Behavior, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2020.1796210
  12. De Bruijn, E. J., & Antonides, G. (2021). Poverty and economic decision making: a review of scarcity
  13. theory. Theory and Decision, 1-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11238-021-09802-7
  14. de Winter, J., Dodou, D., 2010. The driver behaviour questionnaire as a predictor of accidents: a meta-analysis. J. Saf. Res. 41 (6), 463–470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2010.10.007
  15. Deffenbacher, J. L., Deffenbacher, D. M., Lynch, R. S., & Richards, T. L. (2003). Anger, aggression, and risky behavior: A comparison of high and low anger drivers. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 41, 701–718. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(02)00046-3
  16. Deffenbacher, J. L., Getting, E. R., & Lynch, R. S. (1994). Development of a driving anger scale. Psychological Reports, 74, 83–91 https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1994.74.1.83
  17. Deffenbacher, J. L., Lynch, R. S., Oetting, E. R., & Yingling, D. A. (2001). Driving anger: Correlates and a test of state-trait theory. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 1321– 1331. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00226-9
  18. Deffenbacher, J. L., Richards, T. L., Filetti, L. B., & Lynch, R. S. (2005). Angry drivers: A test of state-trait theory. Violence and Victims, 20, 455–469. doi: 10.1891/vivi.2005.20.4.455
  19. Denson, T. F. (2013). The multiple systems model of angry rumination. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 17(2), 103-123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868312467086
  20. Denson, T. F., Pedersen, W. C., Ronquillo, J., & Nandy, A. S. (2009). The angry brain: Neural correlates of anger, angry rumination, and aggressive personality. Journal of cognitive neuroscience, 21(4), 734-744. doi:10.1162/jocn.2009.21051
  21. Dula, C. S., & Geller, E. S. (2003). Risky, aggressive, or emotional driving: Addressing the need for consistent communication in research. Journal of safety research 34(5), 559-566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2003.03.004
  22. Dula, C.S., Geller, E.S., 2003. Risky, aggressive, or emotional driving: addressing the need for consistent communication in research. J. Saf. Res. 34 (5), 559–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2003.03.004
  23. Ellison-Potter, P., Bell, P., Deffenbacher, J., 2001. The effects of trait driving anger, anonymity, and aggressive stimuli on aggressive driving behavior. J. Appl. Social Psychol. 31 (2), 431– 443.
  24. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2001.tb00204.x
  25. Ennett, S.T., Bauman, K.E., 1994. The contribution of influence and selection to adolescent peer group homogeneity: the case of adolescent cigarette smoking. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 67, 653–663
  26. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.67.4.653
  27. Eysenck, S. B. G., Pearson, P. R., Easting, G., & Allsopp, J. F. (1985). Age norms for impulsiveness,
  28. venturesomeness and empathy in adults. Personality and Individual Differences, 6, 613–619.
  29. https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(85)90011-X
  30. Garnefski, N., Kraaij, V. & Spinhoven, Ph. (2002). Manual for the use of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Leiderdorp, The Netherlands: DATEC.
  31. Goldberg, L. R., Johnson, J. A., Eber, H. W., Hogan, R., Ashton, M. C., Cloninger, C. R., & Gough, H. C. (2006). The International Personality Item Pool and the future of public-domain personality measures. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 84-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2005.08.007
  32. Haggerty, Robert J., Norman Garmezy, Lonnie R. Sherrod, and Michael Rutter, eds. 1996. Stress, Risk, and Resilience in Children and Adolescents: Processes, Mechanisms, and Interventions. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  33. Hambleton, R.K., Merenda, P.F., Spielberger, C.D., 2004. Adapting Educational and Psychological Tests for Cross- Cultural Assessment. Psychology Press.
  34. Hollenbeck, J. R., Ilgen, D. R., Phillips, J. M. and Hedlund, J. (1994) Decision risk in dynamic two stage contexts: beyond the status quo, Journal of Applied Psychology, 79, 592–98. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.79.4.592
  35. Holton, M. K., Barry, A. E., & Chaney, J. D. (2016). Employee stress management: An examination of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies on employee health. Work, 53(2), 299-305. doi:10.3233/WOR-152145
  36. Hu, L., Bao, X., Lin, M., Yu, C., & Wang, F. (2021). Research on risky driving behavior evaluation model based on CIDAS real data. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 235(8), 2176-2187.
  37. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954407020985972
  38. Iversen, H. 2004. Risk-Taking Attitudes and Risky Driving Behaviour. Transportation Research Part F 7, 135–150.
  39. Iversen, H., Rundmo, T., 2002. Personality, risky driving and accident involvement among Norwegian drivers. Pers. Individ. Differences, 33 (8), 1251–1263. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00010-7
  40. Jaccard, J., Blanton, H., Dodge, T., 2005. Peer influences on risk behavior: an analysis of the effects of a close friend. Dev. Psychol. 41 (1), 135–147. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.41.1.135
  41. Jafarpour, S., & Rahimi-Movaghar, V. (2014). Determinants of risky driving behavior: a narrative review. Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 28, 142.
  42. Kraag, Gerda, Maurice P. Zeegers, Gerjo Kok, Clemens Hosman, and Huda Huijer Abu-Saad. 2006. School Programs Targeting Stress Management in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of School Psychology, 44:449–72. doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2006.07.001.
  43. Lajunen, T., Parker, D., Stradling, S.G., 1998. Dimensions of driver anger, aggressive and highway code violations and their mediation by safety orientation in UK drivers. Transp. Res. Part F: Traffic Psychol. Behav. 1 (2), 107–121 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1369-8478(98)00009-6
  44. Lauriola, M., & Weller, J. (2018). Personality and risk: Beyond daredevils—risk taking from a temperament perspective. In Psychological perspectives on risk and risk analysis (pp. 3- 36). Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-92478-6_1
  45. Lawton, R., Nutter, A., 2002. A comparison of reported levels and expression of anger in everyday and driving situations. Br. J. Psychol. 93 (3), 407–423 https://doi.org/10.1348/000712602760146521
  46. Lerner, J.S., Keltner, D., 2001. Fear, anger, and risk. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 81 (1), 146 https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.81.1.146
  47. Li, F., Li, C., Long, Y., Zhan, C., & Hennessy, D. A. (2004). Reliability and validity of aggressive driving measures in China. Traffic Injury Preview 5, 349–355. https://doi.org/10.1080/15389580490509527
  48. Love, S., Kannis-Dymand, L., Davey, J., & Freeman, J. (2022). Metacognition, rumination and road rage: an examination of driver anger progression and expression in Australia. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour 84, 21-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2021.11.015
  49. Lucidi, F., L. Malliaa, L. Lazuras, and C. Violani. 2014. Personality and Attitudes as Predictors of Risky Driving among Older Drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention 72: 318–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2014.07.022
  50. Lynn, M. (1991). Scarcity effects on value: A quantitative review of the commodity theory literature. Psychology & Marketing, 8(1), 43-57. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.4220080105
  51. Maples-Keller, J. L., Berke, D. S., Few, L. R., & Miller, J. D. (2016). A review of sensation seeking and its empirical correlates: Dark, bright, and neutral hues. In V. Zeigler-Hill, & D. K. Marcus (Eds.). The dark side of personality: Science and practice in social, personality, and clinical psychology (pp. 137–156) https://doi.org/10.1037/14854-008
  52. Marcus, B. (2003). An empirical examination of the construct validity of two alternative self- control measures. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 63, 674–706. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164403251329
  53. Matthews, G. (2002). Towards a transactional ergonomics for driver stress and fatigue. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomic Science, 3(2), 195–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/14639220210124120
  54. Nesbit, S. M., Conger, J. C., & Conger, A. J. (2007). A quantitative review of the relationship between anger and aggressive driving. Aggression and Violent Behaviour, 12(802), 156– 176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2006.09.003
  55. Nicholson, N., Soane, E., Fenton-O’Creevy, M., & Willman, P. (2005). Personality and domain specific risk-taking. Journal of Risk Research, 8, 157–176 6. https://doi.org/101080/1366987032000123856
  56. Nigg, J. T. (2017). Annual research review: On the relations among self-regulation, self-control, executive functioning, effortful control, cognitive control, impulsivity, risk-taking, and inhibition for developmental psychology. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58, 361–383. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12675
  57. Paleti, R., Eluru, N., Bhat, C.R., 2010. Examining the influence of aggressive driving behavior on driver injury severity in traffic crashes. Accid. Anal. Prev. 42 (6), 1839–1854.
  58. Papageorgiou, C., & Wells, A. (2001). Metacognitive beliefs about rumination in recurrent major depression. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 8(2), 160-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1077-7229(01)80021-3
  59. Parkinson, B., 2001. Anger on and off the road. Br. J. Psychol. 92 (3), 507–526 https://doi.org/10.1348/000712601162310
  60. Pedersen, W. C., Denson, T. F., Goss, R. J., Vasquez, E. A., Kelley, N. J., & Miller, N. (2011). The impact of rumination on aggressive thoughts, feelings, arousal, and behaviour. British Journal of Social Psychology, 50(2), 281-301. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466610X515696
  61. Pharo, H., Sim, C., Graham, M., Gross, J., & Hayne, H. (2011). Risky business: executive function, personality, and reckless behavior during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Behavioral neuroscience, 125(6), 970. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025768
  62. Reynolds, B. W., Basso, M. R., Miller, A. K., Whiteside, D. M., & Combs, D. (2019). Executive function, impulsivity, and risky behaviors in young adults. Neuropsychology, 33(2), 212. https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000510
  63. Richer, I., Bergeron, J., 2012. Differentiating risky and aggressive driving: further support of the internal validity of the Dula Dangerous Driving. Index. Accid. Anal. Prev. 45, 620–627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2011.09.014
  64. Roidl, E., Frehse, B., Oehl, M., Höger, R., 2013a. The emotional spectrum in traffic situations: results of two online-studies. Transp. Res. Part F: Traffic Psychol. Behav. 18, 168–188 doi:10.1016/j.trf.2012.12.009.
  65. Roidl, E., Frehse, B., Oehl, M., Höger, R., 2013a. The emotional spectrum in traffic situations: results of two online-studies. Transp. Res. Part F: Traffic Psychol. Behav. 18, 168–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2012.12.009
  66. Ross, V., Jongen, E., Brijs, T., Ruiter, R., Brijs, K., & Wets, G. (2015). The relation between cognitive control and risky driving in young novice drivers. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 22(1), 61-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2013.838958
  67. Salguero, J. M., García‐Sancho, E., Ramos‐Cejudo, J., & Kannis‐Dymand, L. (2020). Individual differences in anger and displaced aggression: The role of metacognitive beliefs and anger rumination. Aggressive behavior, 46(2), 162-169. doi: 10.1002/ab.21878
  68. Shead, N. W., & Hodgins, D. C. (2009). Probability discounting of gains and losses: Implications for risk attitudes and impulsivity. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 92(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.2009.92-1
  69. Shinar, D., 1998. Aggressive driving: the contribution of the drivers and the situation. Transp. Res. Part F: Traffic Psychol. Behav. 1 (2), 137–160 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1369-8478(99)00002-9
  70. Simons-Morton, B., Lerner, N., & Singer, J. (2005). The observed effects of teenage passengers on the risky driving behavior of teenage drivers. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 37(6), 973-982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2005.04.014
  71. Simons-Morton, B.G., Chen, R., Abroms, R., Haynie, D.L., 2004. Latent growth curve analyses of peer and parent influences on smoking stage progression among early adolescents. Health Psychol. 23 (6), 612–621. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.23.6.612
  72. Skeel, R. L., Neudecker, J., Pilarski, C., & Pytlak, K. (2007). The utility of personality variables and behaviorally-based measures in the prediction of risk-taking behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 43(1), 203–214 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.11.025
  73. Slovic, P. (2000) The Perception of Risk, London: Earthscan
  74. Publications Ltd Starkey, N. J., & Isler, R. B. (2016). The role of executive function, personality and attitudes to risks in explaining self-reported driving behaviour in adolescent and adult male drivers. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 38, 127-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2016.01.013
  75. Stephens, A. N., & Groeger, J. A. (2008). Situational specificity of trait influences on drivers’ evaluations and driving behaviour. Transportation Research Part F, 12(2009), 29–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2008.06.005
  76. Suhr, K. A., & Nesbit, S. M. (2013). Dwelling on ‘Road Rage’: The effects of trait rumination on aggressive driving. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 21, 207-218.
  77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2013.10.001
  78. Sukhodolsky, D. G., Golub, A., & Cromwell, E. N. (2001). Development and validation of the anger rumination scale. Personality and individual differences, 31(5), 689-700. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00171-9
  79. Taubman-Ben-Ari, O., 2012. The effects of positive emotion priming on self-reported reckless driving. Accid. Anal. Prev. 45, 718–725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2011.09.039
  80. Teye-Kwadjo, E. (2019). Risky driving behaviour in urban Ghana: the contributions of fatalistic beliefs, risk perception, and risk-taking attitude. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 57(5), 256-273. https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2019.1613163
  81. Ulleberg, P., and T. Rundmo. 2002. Risk-Taking Attitudes among Young Drivers: The Psychometric Qualities and Dimensionality of an Instrument to Measure Young Drivers’ RiskTaking Attitudes. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 43: 227–237. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467- 9450.00291
  82. Underwood, G., Chapman, P., Wright, S., & Crundall, D. (1999). Anger while driving. Transportation Research Part F, 2, 55–68 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1369- 8478(99)00006-6
  83. Useche, S. A., Cendales, B., Lijarcio, I., & Llamazares, F. J. (2021). Validation of the F-DBQ: a short (and accurate) risky driving behavior questionnaire for long-haul professional drivers. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 82, 190-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2021.08.013
  84. Wang, X., Yang, L., Yang, J., Gao, L., Zhao, F., Xie, X., & Lei, L. (2018). Trait anger and aggression: A moderated mediation model of anger rumination and moral disengagement. Personality and Individual Differences, 125, 44-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.12.029
  85. Warner, H. W., and L. Aberg. 2008. Drivers’ Beliefs about Exceeding the Speed Limits.Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 11 (5): 376–389
  86. Wells, A. (2011). Metacognitive therapy for anxiety and depression. Guilford press.
  87. Wells, A. (2019). Breaking the cybernetic code: Understanding and treating the human metacognitive control system to enhance mental health. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2621. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02621
  88. Yan, X., Radwan, E., & Guo, D. (2007). Effects of major-road vehicle speed and driver age and gender on left-turn gap acceptance. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 39(4), 843- 852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2006.12.006
  89. Yoo, Y., Lee, J., Kim, N., Yang, M. Y., Lee, S., & Kim, J. (2022). An empirical study on the effect of a driving companion bot on anger coping behaviors. Behaviour & Information Technology, 1-16.
  90. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2021.2019831
  91. Zhang, T., & Chan, A. H. S. (2016). The association between driving anger and driving outcomes: A meta- analysis of evidence from the past twenty years. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 90, 50–62.
  92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2016.02.009
  93. Zhang, T., Chan, A. H., Ba, Y., & Zhang, W. (2016). Situational driving anger, driving performance and allocation of visual attention. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 42, 376-388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2015.05.008
  94. Zuckerman, M. (1994). Behavioural expressions and biosocial bases of sensation seeking. Cambridge University Press.
  95. Zuckerman, M. (2007). Sensation seeking and risky behavior. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  96. Zuckerman, M., Kolin, E. A., Price, L. and Zoob, I. (1964) Development of a sensation-seeking scale, Journal of Consulting Psychology, 28, 477–82. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0040995

How to Cite

Rambela, I.-D. (2022). The Role of Coping Strategies in the Relationship between Anger and Risky Driving Behavior. Studia Doctoralia, 13(2), 117–132. https://doi.org/10.47040/sd/sdpsych.v13i2.153