Motor Vehicle Collisions during Adolescence: The Role of Alexithymic Traits and Defense Strategies

Abstract

International literature has shown that adolescents represent the population most at risk of fatal and nonfatal motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). Adolescents’ alexithymic traits and significant use of immature defense strategies have been seen to play a key role. This study aimed to investigate the possible mediation role played by defense strategies use in the relationship between alexithymia and MVCs. Our sample consisted of 297 adolescents divided into four subgroups, based on the number of visits to the emergency department due to an MVC. We assessed adolescents’ alexithymic traits and defense strategies use through self-report instruments. Results showed that males reported a higher rate of MVCs than females. Higher rates of MVCs are associated with more alexithymic traits and maladaptive defense strategies use. Adolescents’ Acting Out and Omnipotence use significantly mediated the relationship between alexithymia and MVCs. Our findings suggest the recidivism of MVCs as an attempt to cope with emotional difficulties, with important clinical implications.

How Does Psychological Distress Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Internet Addiction and Instagram Addiction in Emerging Adults?

“…On the other hand, emerging adults who experienced severe distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic showed the greatest difficulties in describing feelings and the highest scores of Internet and Instagram addiction. These findings are in line with our hypotheses and with numerous studies showing alexithymia to be among the individual vulnerabilities underlying a higher psychopathological risk [ 110 , 139 , 140 , 141 ], especially resulting from stressful life experiences [ 142 , 143 ]. An emerging adult with difficulties in regulating and identifying his/her emotions may be at higher risk in coping with stressful events, due to a deficit in symbolic thinking [ 144 ] and in processing and regulating his/her feelings-related responses [ 145 ].…”

Late Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers and Psychological Distress Resulting from COVID-19. A Study on the Mediation Role of Alexithymia

“…Regarding the specific role played by late adolescents' alexithymia on the psychological impact of COVID-19, our results have confirmed that higher levels of alexithymia are predictive of late adolescents' emotional-behavioral difficulties [96][97][98]. This could be due to the difficulties in regulating and identifying own and others' feelings [58][59][60], which would expose the late adolescent to greater vulnerability in coping with stressful situations [53][54][55][56].…”

Psychological Functioning, Defense Strategies and the Contribution of Perceived Family Collaboration in Adolescents Who Experienced Multiple Motor Vehicle Crashes: A Descriptive Study

“…Especially when adolescents visit the emergency room several times, we could consider this behavior as an unconscious attempt to obtain psychological help [ 29 ]. Coherently with recent literature aimed at investigating variables related to the high rates of traffic collisions observed in adolescents [ 11 , 23 , 25 ], we emphasize the importance of considering the dynamic interplay between factors of different natures, environmental, individual, and relational, placing particular emphasis on the role played by the family and the adolescent’s psychological functioning. Other studies have underlined the importance of family when studying risky behaviors in general and related to driving in adolescence [ 23 , 25 ].…”

“…Coherently with recent literature aimed at investigating variables related to the high rates of traffic collisions observed in adolescents [ 11 , 23 , 25 ], we emphasize the importance of considering the dynamic interplay between factors of different natures, environmental, individual, and relational, placing particular emphasis on the role played by the family and the adolescent’s psychological functioning. Other studies have underlined the importance of family when studying risky behaviors in general and related to driving in adolescence [ 23 , 25 ]. Not only does adequate family communication seem to be of cardinal importance in shaping adolescents’ perception of safety practices in driving (e.g., wearing seatbelts when driving) [ 30 ], but it is also important in promoting self-regulation in emotions, protecting adolescents from engaging in risky behaviors [ 31 , 32 ].…”

“…However, the emotional functioning of adolescents before the collision is far less explored [ 20 ] because a certain psychological functioning in adolescents could increase the possibility of being involved in an MVC. Moreover, the majority of the literature tends to consider these variables as outcomes of the MVC [ 21 , 22 ], while, based on other studies [ 23 , 24 , 25 ], they could also be studied and investigated as predictors of MVCs. For instance, alexithymic traits are known to be related to risk-taking in adolescents [ 26 ].…”