Motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. present a significant challenge, particularly for young adults with limited driving experience and commuter college students, as these incidents lead to injuries, economic burdens, and disruptions in academic progress. While previous studies have extensively examined the relationship between driver crashes and variables such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status, fewer studies have explored the association between mental health challenges and crash involvement. Therefore, the current study aims to examine the correlation between self-reported mental health conditions and driver vehicle crashes among commuter college students.
The study utilized baseline data from a randomized controlled trial examining commuter behavior at a South Florida university. A total of 289 commuter students who drive to campus were surveyed regarding their self-reported mental health status over the past 30 days and any history of driver vehicle crashes within the past four months. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess correlations between mental health indicators and crash involvement. Control variables included socioeconomic factors such as Pell Grant recipient status and first-generation college student status.
According to the findings, 22 participants (7.6%) reported experiencing a vehicular crash within the past four months. The respondents indicated an average of 9.9 days per month characterized by poor mental health and 2.1 days of poor physical health. The incidence of insomnia, anxiety, and depression was found to have a significant and positive correlation with crash risk, while the number of days feeling very healthy and full of energy (Healthy Days) showed a negative correlation. A negative binomial regression analysis, which accounted for socioeconomic factors such as Pell Grant receipt, first-generation college student status, and age, indicated that each additional day of poor mental health was associated with a 5% increase in crash risk over a four-month period. In contrast, each additional day of good mental health was linked to a 7.7% decrease in crash risk. Additionally, various factors, including lower GPA (with the crash group averaging 2.82 compared to 3.29 for the non-crash group), caregiving responsibilities, Pell Grant receipt, first-generation college student status, and Hispanic ethnicity, were significantly associated with elevated crash risk. Notably, each one-point increase in GPA was correlated with a 39% reduction in crash risk. These findings reveal a significant correlation between mental health challenges and an elevated risk of accidents among commuter students.
Takeaway: Among commuter college students, an increased number of days experiencing poor mental health is associated with a higher likelihood of vehicle crashes, while an increased number of days of good mental health correlates with a lower risk of such incidents.