The impact of motor vehicle injury on distress: Moderators and trajectories over time

Research reveals that motor vehicle injuries (MVIs) can result in severe and debilitating psychological distress. Yet, not every person who has sustained a MVI suffers psychologically. It appears that risk of distress varies by demographic and psychosocial characteristics. The present study aimed to explore the trajectories of post-MVI distress and the effect of pre-MVI psychological functioning on post-MVI distress. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to explore the longitudinal dataset from the Canadian National Population Health Survey. Participants were assessed up to nine years post-MVI. Post-MVI distress increased over time. Men experienced greater overall distress than women and a greater increase in distress over time. Pre-MVI distress predicted post-MVI distress. This relationship was strongest for those with greater pre-MVI alcohol consumption. At low levels of pre-MVI distress, greater pre-MVI alcohol consumption was related to lower post-MVI distress, but at high levels of pre-MVI distress, greater pre-MVI alcohol consumption predicted increased post-MVI distress. Those with partners experienced less distress than the unpartnered. This study supports the general findings of other post-MVI and post-trauma studies, although the current study’s main and interaction effects reveal more complex and nuanced relationships among variables in their prediction of post-MVI psychological distress.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2013.08.004
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847813000685
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13698478
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Wiesenthal, Naomi
  • Vingilis, Evelyn
• Publication Date: 2013-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-13
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
  • Volume: 21
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1369-8478
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13698478

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash injuries; Demographics; Distress; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Psychological aspects; Social factors; Traffic crash victims; Traffic crashes
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01505174
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 27 2014 11:02AM