title: Poor mental health status and aggression are associated with poor driving behavior among male traffic offenders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Iran, traffic accidents and deaths from traffic accidents are among the highest in the world, and generally driver behavior rather than either technical failures or environmental conditions are responsible for traffic accidents. In the present study, we explored the extent to which aggressive traits, health status, and sociodemographic variables explain driving behavior among Iranian male traffic offenders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 443 male driving offenders (mean age: M =31.40 years, standard deviation =9.56) from Kermanshah (Iran) took part in the study. Participants completed a questionnaire booklet covering sociodemographic variables, traits of aggression, health status, and driving behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Poor health status, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and social dysfunction, and also higher levels of trait aggression explained poor driving behavior. Multiple regressions indicated that poor health status, but not aggression, independently predicted poor driving behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that health status concerns are associated with poor driving behavior. Prevention and intervention might therefore focus on drivers reporting poor mental health status.
authors: International University of Imam Reza, Mashhad, Iran ; Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors: Nasrin
authors: N
authors: Abdoli
authors: Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Psychiatry Department, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors: Vahid
authors: V
authors: Farnia
authors: Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Delavar
authors: Police University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Alirez
authors: A
authors: Esmaeili
authors: Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Fariborz
authors: F
authors: Dortaj
authors: Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Noorali
authors: N
authors: Farrokhi
authors: Baharestan Research Center, Kermanshah Transportation Terminal, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Karami
authors: Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Psychiatry Department, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors: Jalal
authors: J
authors: Shakeri
authors: Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Edith
authors: E
authors: Holsboer-Trachsler
authors: Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland ; Department of Sport and Health Science, Sport Science Section, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Serge
authors: S
authors: Brand
keywords: anxiety aggression; depression; health status; insomnia; male traffic offenders