Difficulties in emotion regulation of novice male traffic offenders

Abstract

Novice drivers are the most risky group of drivers due to inexperience and propensity to take risks. However there is a lack of research on importance of emotion regulation problems for the novice drivers' involvement in different road traffic rules violations. This research was aimed to assess differences in difficulties in emotion regulation among different groups of novice driving offenders. 59 novice male drivers (mean age 21.53) who have driving license suspension due to different violations participated in this pilot study. Difficulties in emotion regulation were assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004). Information about participants' type of road traffic rules violation and their driving experience until the driving license suspension was also obtained. The results have shown that drunk drivers have lowest driving experience compared to over speeders and those who did other road traffic rules violations. Difficulties engaging in goal-directed behaviour, non-acceptance of emotional responses and lack of emotional awareness were mostly expressed difficulties in emotion regulation in all groups of novice driving offenders. However no significant differences were found in emotion regulation difficulties among those three groups. Less driving experience was related to more expressed difficulties engaging in goal-directed behaviour and non-acceptance of emotional responses in the group of over speeders. The results imply that combination of specific difficulties in emotion regulation with the lack of driving experience is important predictor for overspeeding. More research with larger sample is needed for more substantiated conclusions about the other groups of novice offenders.