The mediation effect of emotion dysregulation in the relationship between stress and aggression on the road

Abstract

Introduction: Aggressive behaviour on the road is still one of the most studied constructs within human factor due to its strong relationship with crash-related events. Objective: The aim of the current research was to analyse the relationship among vital stress, emotion dysregulation, and aggressive behaviour in this specific context. Method: A sample composed of 410 Spanish drivers (62.8% female, Mage = 36.12, SDage = 12.99) taken from the general population was tested. Results: The results showed positive and significant bivariate correlations among almost all of the variables. The multiple mediation model showed a partial mediation effect of emotion dysregulation, with a significant effect on the whole model, and more specifically, on both the lack of control and life interference. Conclusion: The relevance of developing clinical interventions to improve emotion regulation abilities in aggressive drivers is discussed.