Mobile Phone Use “on the Road”: A Self-Report Study on Young Drivers

Fraschetti, Angelo; Cordellieri, Pierluigi; Lausi, Giulia; Mari, Emanuela; Paoli, Elena; Burrai, Jessica; Quaglieri, Alessandro; Baldi, Michela; Pizzo, Alessandra; Giannini, Anna Maria · 2021 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620653

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Summary

This study investigates the psychological factors influencing mobile phone use while driving among young drivers, a behavior identified as a primary cause of road accidents. Motivated by the high prevalence of driver misconduct and the inconsistent findings regarding gender differences in distracted driving, the research aims to determine how variables such as sensation-seeking, multitasking preferences, self-efficacy, and risk perception predict mobile phone use. Additionally, the study examines whether these relationships differ between male and female drivers. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study involving 424 Italian high school students aged 18 to 21. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire comprising five scales: Adolescent Multitasking Preference Inventory (measuring polychronicity and attitudes toward multitasking), Perceived Self-Efficacy in Multitasking, Accident Risk Perception Due to Multitasking, Sensation Seeking, and a newly developed Multitasking Behavior scale. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis to validate the scales, followed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the predictive model. Multigroup analysis (MGSEM) and MANOVA were employed to assess gender differences. The results indicated that the attitude toward multitasking while driving is significantly explained by the examined variables. Specifically, higher scores in sensation-seeking, perceived self-efficacy in multitasking, and general multitasking behavior positively correlated with mobile phone use while driving. Conversely, higher risk perception regarding mobile phone use while driving negatively correlated with this behavior. Gender analysis revealed distinct profiles: males exhibited higher mean scores in sensation-seeking, perceived self-efficacy in multitasking, and actual multitasking caused by mobile phone use. In contrast, females demonstrated higher risk perception regarding multitasking and mobile phone use while driving. The SEM model proved suitable for explaining the behaviors of both genders, though the specific drivers of behavior differed. The study concludes that specific psychological traits, particularly sensation-seeking and overestimated self-efficacy, increase the likelihood of young drivers using mobile phones while driving, while accurate risk perception serves as a protective factor. The findings highlight significant gender differences, with males more prone to risky multitasking behaviors and females more aware of the associated risks. These results imply that road safety education programs should be tailored to address these specific psychological determinants and gender-specific risk profiles to effectively reduce distracted driving among young adults.

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Topics

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• sex gender
• mobile phones
• passenger effects
• temporal
• sensation seeking
• risk taking

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, behavioral performance data
• Theoretical Contribution: theory or model