Driving cognitions, rumination, and posttraumatic stress disorder in road traffic accidents survivors

This study evaluated the relationships between driving cognitions (i.e., panic-related cognitions, accident-related cognitions, and social-related cognitions), rumination, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a sample of road traffic accidents (RTAs) survivors. We also investigated the indirect effect of driving cognitions on PTSD symptoms through rumination. The sample included 633 drivers (62% were men; Mage=36.09; standard deviation [SD]=11.42years). The participants completed scales measuring driving cognitions, rumination, and PTSD symptoms, as well as providing their demographic information. The results showed that all three types of driving cognitions assessed in the present study and rumination were significantly positively associated with PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, rumination mediated the relation between social-related cognitions and PTSD symptoms. The implications for PTSD treatment and future research are discussed.