Problematic driving in former service members: An evaluation of the Driving Behavior Survey in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Despite high levels of traffic-related mortality, injury, and impairment among former service members, measures validated to assess problematic driving in this population remain limited. The current study examined characteristics of the Driving Behavior Survey (DBS) in male veterans (76.3% White; age: M = 56.4, SD = 12.3) meeting criteria for PTSD. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated acceptable fit of a 3-factor model specifying dimensions of anxiety-based performance deficits, exaggerated safety/caution, and hostile/aggressive driving behavior. Concurrent associations with indices of anxiety, depression, trauma history, and clinician-rated PTSD were consistent with small (r = .10-.29) to medium (r = .30-.49) effects. Discriminative validity was noted through elevations in performance deficit (d = .26), safety/caution (d = .50), and hostile/aggressive (d = .39) scales relative to published data from student drivers. Scores comparable to civilian motorists with accident-related PTSD help to qualify the severity of problematic driving behavior in trauma-exposed veterans.

Keywords: Assessment; Driving anxiety; Driving behavior; Military veterans; Posttraumatic stress disorder.

Fig. 1.

Driving Behavior Survey (DBS) scores and 95% confidence intervals for clinical and non-clinical samples. CAUT = DBS excessive safety/caution behaviors; DEF = DBS anxiety-based performance deficits; ANG = DBS hostile/aggressive driving behavior. Veteran PTSD (N = 160): CAUT (M = 4.39, SD = 1.17); DEF (M = 2.23, SD = 1.02); ANG (M = 3.38, SD = 1.61). Motor vehicle accident PTSD sample from Clapp et al. (2014; N = 40): CAUT (M = 4.41, SD = 1.54); DEF (M = 2.25, SD = 1.35); ANG (M = 2.97, SD = 1.31). Unselected student sample from Clapp et al. (2011; N = 518): CAUT (M = 3.88, SD = 0.89); DEF (M = 2.00, SD = 0.70); ANG (M = 2.74, SD = 1.14).