Research Paper: Investigation of the Psychosocial Factors Affecting High Risk Driving Behaviors in Adolescents in the City of Tehran, 2014

Abstract

Background: Driving accidents are among the most important causes of mortality in the world in recent years. In Iran, especially in major cities such as Tehran, this issue has become a prevalent social problem. More importantly, adolescents and young people constitute the majority of the victims of traffic accidents. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the psychosocial dimensions affecting high risk driving behaviors in adolescents in the age group between 12 to 17 years, in the city of Tehran. Materials and Methods:The present study has taken a quantitative (correlation) approach by selecting a sample of 537 adolescents aged between 12 to 17 years and the psychosocial factors affecting high risk driving behaviors were assessed. The samples were selected by a Stratifiedcluster method from the insurance company, hospitals and education correctional centers.Results: Our study demonstrate that among psychological factors, three determinants, namely national religious identity, attitude toward laws and rules, and aggression were able to predict high risk behaviors in boys group with coefficient of B, 0.24, and 0.16, respectively; while the strongest predictor of high risk behavior is national religious identity. On the other hand, in the girls' group, two factors, namely autocratic parenting and attitude toward law and rules were able to predict high risk behaviors with coefficients of B, 0.19, and 0.18, respectively; while the strongest predictor was the autocratic style of parenting. Among social factors, our findings show that participation in the plan to cooperate with traffic police with coefficients of Beta 0.26 and 0.21, respectively, is the strongest predictor of high risk behavior in adolescent boys and girls. Conclusion:Among predictor variables aggression, law breaking behavior, and national religious identity can better predict driving accidents, attitude toward law, and high risk behaviors. Aggression, attitude, and law breaking behavior are considered as abnormal behaviors that lead to legal problems, delinquencies, substance abuse and other destructive behaviors among adolescents and consequently cause damage, injury and disabilities in themselves and others. Moreover, involvement in aggressive behaviors can play a critical role in creating and exacerbating new behavioral problems in adolescents, and those problems are carried over immutably at the later stages of their life.