TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND PSYCHOSOCIAL VARIABLES A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify and analyze empirical studies on traffic accidents in terms of psychosocial variables as consequences or predictors of involvement in traffic accidents. An electronic bibliographic search of literature indexed with PsycINFO, MedLINE and LILACS, between 2000 to 2006, was undertaken using the key words: Traffic Accidents, Anxiety, Depression, Psychosocial Adaptation and Quality of Life. A total of 36 articles were identified and grouped into two categories, one relative to anxiety and quality of life after accident and the other relative to the personal variables of the drivers. The studies evaluated associated traffic accidents with anxiety and depression, psychosocial loss, identifying the following characteristics as indicators of involvement in traffic accidents: young, male, with tendency to aggressiveness and social transgression.