Are early maladaptive schemas related to current driver behaviors? A study on previous toxic experiences and driving

Abstract

Introduction

Realizing the importance of driver behaviors in the context of road traffic safety, researchers investigated the factors that relate to driver behaviors. One of the most examined factors predicting driver behaviors is personality. In addition to personality characteristics, early maladaptive schemas (EMS) play a critical role in the way the individual thinks, feels, acts, and relates to others, which leads them to display the maladaptive behaviors to recreate the harmful conditions experienced in childhood. EMS are found to be associated with behavioral problems such as illicit drug use, aggressive and illegal behaviors, heavy alcohol use, risky sexual behaviors, violence towards parents and partners. The current work aims to examine the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and driver behaviors in traffic context after controlling the role of personality.

Method

Of the 294 participants, 141 were males, 151 were females, and 2 did not specify sex. Age range was 18–67 (M = 27.2, SD = 10.5). Participants filled out an online survey battery including a demographic information form, the Basic Personality Traits Inventory, the Dirty Dozen, the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short Form, and the Driver Behavior Questionnaire.

Results

According to the results of the correlation analysis, schema domains showed significant relationships with the driver behavior subscales for 17 out of 25 coefficients. Hierarchical regression analyses suggested that impaired autonomy was positively associated with errors and lapses, while it was negatively associated with positive behaviors. This relationship was found when demographic and personality variables were accounted for.

Conclusion

The current study is the first to exclusively investigate the relationship between EMS and driver behaviors. Relationship between impaired autonomy on one hand and errors and lapses on the other point out to the role of affective and cognitive processes that play a role in driving.