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Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Is cannabis associated with more than just driving impairment? An investigation into the psychological dysfunctioning and driving behaviours of active cannabis users
Transportation Research. Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, Vol.107, pp.1162-1174
2024
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Research has suggested that problematic cannabis use is associated with self-regulatory impairments, psychopathology, and the tendency to engage in risk taking behaviours. However, no research has applied the combined dynamics of these factors to the topic of risky driving behaviour specifically. This study investigated whether specific cannabis use patterns (i.e., use onset, duration, frequency, and quantity) and likely dependence influenced driving styles, via their effects towards emotional dysregulation and psychopathology (i.e., anxiety, depression, anger), among an online sample of active Australian cannabis users (N = 200). Group comparisons showed that likely dependent cannabis users reported significantly greater difficulties regulating their emotions, greater incidence of psychopathological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, and anger), and more frequent engagement in risky driving styles (i.e., anxious driving, aggressive driving, dissociative driving, and reckless driving), compared to non-dependent cannabis users. Examination of bivariate correlations demonstrated significant and positive associations between specific cannabis use patterns, emotional regulation difficulties, psychopathology, and risky driving styles. Structural equation modelling highlighted that cannabis use patterns indirectly predicted participants self-reported engagement in risky driving styles via their effects towards self-regulatory difficulties and psychopathology. The findings of this study have highlighted driving related risks associated with cannabis use, outside of typical acute-related impairments. In addition, the study has emphasised the importance of psychological dysfunctioning in the engagement of both substance use and risky driving styles. Understanding this in combination is important for future interventions targeting aberrant driving behaviours.
Details
- Title
- Is cannabis associated with more than just driving impairment? An investigation into the psychological dysfunctioning and driving behaviours of active cannabis users
- Authors
- Steven Love - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research CollaborationPetra Unger - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research CollaborationBevan Rowland - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research CollaborationKerry Armstrong - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research Collaboration
- Publication details
- Transportation Research. Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, Vol.107, pp.1162-1174
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Date published
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.trf.2024.11.010
- ISSN
- 1873-5517; 1369-8478
- Copyright note
- © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- The authors do not have permission to share data.
- Grant note
- This study was funded by a grant between the Queensland Motor Accident Insurance Commission and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
- Organisation Unit
- Road Safety Research Collaboration; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991080583402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
20 Record Views