The traumatic impact of motor vehicle accidents in high school students.

Publisher: Oxford University Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7801773 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1465-735X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01468693 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Pediatr Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 1998- : Cary, NC : Oxford University Press
Original Publication: Washington, Society of Pediatric Psychology.

Accidents, Traffic/*psychology ; Anxiety/*diagnosis ; Depression/*diagnosis ; Dissociative Disorders/*diagnosis ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*diagnosis; Accidents, Traffic/statistics & numerical data ; Adaptation, Psychological ; Adolescent ; Anxiety/psychology ; Child ; Depression/psychology ; Dissociative Disorders/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Psychological ; Prevalence ; Social Support ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objectives: To obtain the year prevalence of nonfatal motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) in adolescents, to describe trauma symptoms (posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, dissociation), and to test a theoretical model of traumatic events.
Methods: A community-based sample of 3,007 adolescents (mean age: 14.6 years) completed questionnaires regarding MVAs, appraisals, coping, support, and trauma symptoms.
Results: Three percent of the adolescents reported being injured in a MVA during the past year. Of the adolescents who reported a MVA in their life (22.4%), 11.0% reported significant posttraumatic stress or other trauma symptoms. Structural equation modeling revealed that negative appraisals mediated the relation between trauma symptoms and MVA severity. Avoidant coping partially mediated the relation between appraisal and trauma symptoms. Social support was associated with less negative appraisals and with more avoidant coping.
Conclusions: Results suggest the need for a better registration of young traffic victims to optimize screening for psychological problems.

Date Created: 20110820 Date Completed: 20120604 Latest Revision: 20151119

20240829

10.1093/jpepsy/jsr058

21852341