Association between mental health and traffic accidents injuries in Iranian men

Abstract

Study of psychological consequences in traffic accident injured has received little attention in Iran. This study aimed to examine association between mental health and traffic related injuries in injured patients admitted into Emergency Department of Golestan hospital affiliated to Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz, Iran. This study was done on a total of 102 injured men involved in traffic accidents as driver. The controls were consisted of 87 men that were selected from general population and had no history of traffic accident. The data was gathered using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and analyzed through multiple univariate Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs). There was a significant difference between individuals with traffic accident and control group in mental health, physical symptoms, depression and social functioning all (p<0.001). Difference in anxiety/insomnia was not significant (p>0.05). There were significant differences between two group in education, occupation status and marital status all (p<0.001). Traffic injuries were associated with mental health and physical symptoms, depression and social functioning components of GHQ. These results highlight the individual burden related to traffic accidents in Iran.