Skip to main content
Log in

Relations Among Personality Traits, Mood States, and Driving Behaviors

  • Published:
Journal of Adult Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One hundred sixty-three individuals participated in this study, which assessed relations among personality traits, mood states, and driving behaviors. Each participant underwent a standard driving evaluation on the road and completed the NEO PI-R Personality Inventory and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Results indicated that the mood states of depression-dejection, anger-hostility, fatigue-inertia, vigor activity, and tension-anxiety were related to Cautiousness while driving for young adults, while personality traits were not found to be related to driving. Implications of these findings are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • American Psychological Association. (1992). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 47, 1597-1611.

    Google Scholar 

  • Appel, C. P.,Blomkvist, A. C.,Persson, L. O., &Sjoberg, L. (1980). Mood and achievement in a difficult driving task. Ergonomics, 23, 605-612.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arthur, W., &Doverspike, D. (1992). Locus of control and auditory selective attention as predictors of driving accident involvement: A comparative longitudinal investigation. Journal of Personality, 64, 593-618.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arthur, W. Jr., &Graziano, W. G. (1996). The five-factor model, conscientiousness, and driving accident involvement. Journal of Personality, 64, 593-618.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beirness, D. J. (1993). Do we really drive as we live? The role of personality factors in road crashes. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving, 9, 129-143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beirness, D. J., &Simpson, H. M. (1988). Lifestyle correlates of risky driving and accident involvement among youth. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving, 4, 193-204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buss, A. H., &Durkee, A. (1957). An inventory for assessing different kinds of hostility. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21, 343-349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr, D.,Jackson, T. W.,Madden, D. J., &Cohen, H. J. (1992). The effect of age on driving skills. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 40, 567-573.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa, P. T., &McCrae, R. R. (1980). Influence of extraversion and neuroticism on subjective well-being: Happy and unhappy people. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38, 668-678.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa, P. T., &McCrae, R. R. (1992). Revised NEO personality inventory (NEO PI-R) and NEO five factor inventory (NEOFFI). Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demick, J., &Harkins, D. (1997). Role of cognitive style in the driving skills of young, middle-aged, and older adults.

  • Donovan, D. M., &Marlatt, G. A. (1982). Personality subtypes among driving-while-intoxicated offenders: Relationship to drinking behavior and driving risk. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 241-249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donovan, D. J.,Umlauf, R. L.,Queisser, H. R., &Salzberg, P. J. (1986). Personality subtypes among driving-while-intoxicated offenders: Follow-up of subsequent driving records. Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 54, 563-565.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorn, L. &Matthews, G. (1995). Prediction of mood and risk appraisals from trait measures: Two studies of simulated driving. European Journal of Personality, 9, 25-42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmons, R. A., &Diener, E. (1986). Influence of impulsivity and sociability on subjective well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 1211-1215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, L., &Wasielewski, P. (1983). Risky driving related to driver and vehicle characteristics. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 15, 121-136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goggin, N. L., &Keller, M. J. (1996). Older drivers: A closer look. Educational Gerontology, 22, 245-256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulian, E.,Matthews, G.,Glendon, A. I.,Davies, D. R., &Debney, L. M. (1989). Dimensions of driver stress. Ergonomics, 32, 585-602.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harano, R. M.,McBride, R. S., &Peck, R. C. (1973). The Prediction of Accidental Liability Through Biographical Data and Psychometric Tests. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Motor Vehicles, Research and Statistics Section.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, M. (1971). The accident-prone car driver-does he exist? The Medical Journal of Australia, 2, 909-912.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R. (1987). Risky driving and adolescent problem behavior. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving, 3, 1-12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, R. E., &Treat, J. R. (1977). Psychological, social and cognitive characteristics of high risk drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 9, 1-8.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNair, D.,Lorr, M., &Droppleman, L. (1992). Profile of mood states (3rd ed.). San Diego: Educational & Industrial Testing Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGuire, F. L. (1972). Smoking, driver education, and other correlations of accidents among males. Journal of Safety Research, 4, 5-11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, G. J., &Shack, J. R. (1989). Structural convergence of mood and personality: Evidence for old and new directions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 691-706.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelz, D. C., &Schuman, S. H. (1968). Dangerous young drivers. Society of Automotive Engineers Journal, 76, 61-68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal vs. external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80, (Whole No. 609).

  • Rusting, C. L., &Larsen, R. J. (1995). Moods as sources of stimulation: Relationships between personality and desired mood states. Personality and Individual Differences, 18, 321-329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, C. W.,Perlin, S.,Townes, W.,Fisher, R. S., &Shaffer, J. W. (1972). Characteristics of drivers involved in single-car accidents: A comparative study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 27, 800-903.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuman, S. H.,Pelz, D. C.,Ehrlich, N. J., &Selzer, M. L. (1967). Young male drivers: Impulse expression, accidents, and violations. Journal of the American Medical Association, 200, 1026-1030.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selzer, M. L.,Payne, C. E.,Westervelt, F. H., &Quinn, J. (1967). Automobile accidents as an expression of psychopathology in an alcoholic population. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 28, 505-516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selzer, M. L. &Vinokur, A. (1974). Life events, subjective stress, and traffic accidents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 903-906.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selzer, M. L.,Vinokur, A., &Wilson, T. D. (1977). A psychosocial comparison of drunken drivers and alcoholics. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 38, 1294-1312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, L. (1965). The practical use of projective personality tests as accident predictors. Traffic Safety Research Review, 9, 34-72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suchman, E. A. (1970). Accident and social deviance. Journal of Health and Social Deviance, 11, 4-15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svrakic, D. M.,Przybeck, T. R., &Cloninger, C. R. (1992). Mood states and personality traits. Journal of Affective Disorders, 24, 217-226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tillman, W. A., &Hobbs, G. E., (1969). The accident-prone automobile driver: A study of the psychiatric and social background. American Journal of Psychiatry, 106, 321-331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada (1985). Traffic accidents and youth: A cohort study of alcohol and other factors. Final report. Phase II. Ottawa: TIRF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wapner, S., &Demick, J. (1998). Developmental analysis:A holistic, developmental, systems-oriented perspective. In W. Damon (Series Ed.) & R. M. Lerner (Vol. Ed.), Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 1 Theoretical models of human development ( 5th ed., pp. 761-805). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, R. J., &Jonah, B. A. (1988). The application of problem behaviour theory to the understanding of risky driving. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving, 4, 173-191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1979). Sensation seeking: Beyond the optimal level of arousal. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M., &Neeb, M. (1980). Demographic influences in sensation seeking and expressions of sensation seeking in religion, smoking and driving habits. Personal and Individual Differences, 1, 197-206.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Garrity, R.D., Demick, J. Relations Among Personality Traits, Mood States, and Driving Behaviors. Journal of Adult Development 8, 109–118 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026446002317

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026446002317

Navigation