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Published on: September 18, 2012
Determining the focus of driving fears
J E Taylor1, F P Deane, J V Podd
1School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Joanne.Taylor.1@uni.massey.ac.nz
Journal of Anxiety Disorders
|November 30, 2000
Summary
This study identified two subtypes of driving phobia: one focused on danger and another on anxiety and unpleasant situations. These findings suggest a need to assess both internal and external fear triggers in driving anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Anxiety Disorders
- Phobia Research
Background:
- Driving phobia is a complex condition.
- Research on flying phobia suggests subtypes based on fear focus.
- Subtypes for driving phobia remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate potential subtypes of driving phobia.
- Examine differences between individuals with and without a history of motor vehicle accidents (MVA).
- Clarify the focus of fear in driving-related anxiety.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 85 individuals with driving fears via media.
- Administered questionnaires assessing anxiety, avoidance, and driving concerns.
- Utilized cluster analysis to identify fear patterns.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in fear severity were found between those with and without MVA history.
- Cluster analysis revealed two distinct fear subtypes: danger expectancies and anxiety/unpleasant situation expectancies.
- Individuals reported high expectations of negative driving events.
Conclusions:
- Driving phobia may have subtypes similar to flying phobia.
- Assessing both internal (anxiety) and external (danger) fear foci is crucial.
- Further research is needed to replicate findings and develop targeted treatments.
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