<div>Among substance-abusing traffic offenders, poor sleep and poor general health predict lower driving skills but not slower reaction times</div>

Abstract

BackgroundTraffic accidents are a significant health issue in Iran. Explanations for such accidents have included single consideration of the role of poor sleep and negative psychological trait and state variables. In this study, we examined whether and to what extent sleep, general health, and aggression can concomitantly predict driving behavior.MethodsA total of 360 male traffic offenders (driving under substance use; mean age: 31 years) participated in this study. They completed the questionnaires covering sociodemographic, sleep-related, and behavior-related variables. In addition, their visual and acoustic reaction times were objectively tested.ResultsPoor sleep, poor general health, and higher aggression scores were associated with self-rated poor driving behavior. Poor sleep was directly associated with poor driving behavior and indirectly via poor general health and aggression. In contrast, visual and acoustic reaction times were unrelated to sleep, general health, aggression, or self-rated driving behavior.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first study in Iran to assess concomitantly poor sleep, poor general health, and higher aggression scores as independent predictors of poor driving behavior among a larger sample of substance-abusing traffic offenders. Furthermore, visual and acoustic reaction times were unrelated to sleep, general health, aggression, and driving behavior. Finally, importantly, poor sleep predicted both directly and indirectly poor driving behavior.

Driving Accidents, Driving Violations, Symptoms of Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity (ADHD) and Attentional Network Tasks

“…Fifth, unassessed psychological and physiological traits, such as arousal, alertness, daytime sleepiness, motivation, test anxiety, and increased cortisol concentrations as a proxy for increased psychophysiological arousal, might have distorted two or more dimensions in the same or opposite direction. This holds particularly true, as health-related issues, such as depression, anxiety, and poor sleep, might negatively impact testing driving behavior under laboratory conditions [ 1 , 10 , 79 ]. Sixth, following Cortese et al [ 64 ], the intake of methylphenidate has a beneficial effect on cognitive performance and safe driving behavior; medication intake should be thoroughly assessed in future studies.…”

“…However, despite this trend, traffic accidents remain the second largest cause of mortality in Iran [ 5 , 6 ], and the main cause of injuries requiring surgical intervention [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Traffic accidents are most often the result a driver’s poor driving behavior, while the part played by technical malfunctions is negligible [ 10 ]. Here, following the Manchester Driving Behavior Questionnaire [ 11 ] the following dimensions of poor driving behavior were identified: aggressive violations (e.g., other drivers’ behavior triggers anger), ordinary violations (e.g., not respecting the maximum speed allowed or stop signals; changing lanes without indicating), errors (e.g., driving inappropriately cautiously on highways or on empty roads), and lapses (e.g., forgetting the speed limits in a given area).…”

A Mixed-Method Modified Delphi Study toward Identifying Key Elements of Psychotherapy in Iran

“…However, it is insufficient merely to identify what does not work in psychotherapy, and an identification of key elements that do lead to successful treatment (and therefore ultimately those that reduce unsuccessful treatment and drop-out rates) is critical in addressing these concerns. Furthermore, we note that Asian countries have similar problems as Iran has in the concept of counseling, psychotherapy, and rehabilitation that necessitate bringing change in mental health [23,32], while there is a paucity of literature about psychotherapy challenges and system deliveries in these countries [34].…”

“…As described by Danaei et al [22], the infrastructure for primary health care and education has improved dramatically within the last two decades. Psychosocial, psychological and psychiatric interventions increased to help survivors of natural disasters or veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); to prevent unfavorable behavior such as suicidal ideation, domestic violence, and substance abuse; or to prevent unfavorable behavior related to traffic accidents [23][24][25]. On the flip side, there are still concerns about inadequacy of mental health services in Iran.…”

The Relationship between Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and anxiety, Depression, Stress and Sleep in Professional Drivers in southern Iran

“…Poor cognitive driving behavior signi cantly accounts for many of accidents. Four factors may cause poor driving behavior, including; psychological trait variables, psychological state variables, mental health and sleep status, and lack of attention [2]. About the lack of concentration, safety experts believe that attention de cit disorders are the cause of a high number of road accidents [3,4].…”