Coping with Stress in Male and Female Car Drivers after Road Traffic Accident

This paper presents the empirical study of coping with stress in car drivers after road traffic accident (N=64) age 20 to 48 years-old (37 males and 27 females). Methods: Lazarus coping — strategies scale with modified instruction for the road accident; hardiness survey, S. Maddi and author’s questionnaire. Results show that all drivers feel fear, anger and frustration in traffic accident. Leading coping strategies among female drivers were "seeking of social support” and “positive reappraisal”. At the same time female drivers were more vulnerable to the posttraumatic emotional reactions and were looking for professional help after accident more often. The lack of traffic accident experience was linked with “distancing” coping strategy and low level of control among female drivers. “Positive reappraisal” coping strategy helps female drivers to feel less fear after traffic accident. In our study male drivers used “confrontation” and “escape” strategies which were primary associated with considerable financial damage as a result of the accident, feeling of anger and less driving experience.

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