Motor vehicle collisions in adolescence: the role of family support

Abstract

Road collisions are frequent during adolescence. Research in this field has limitedly focused on adolescents’ emotional-behavioral functioning and on the role played by family support. This study aims to investigate the emotional–behavioral functioning, difficulties to identify and describe emotions and family support in adolescents that have experienced motorbikes collisions. N= 144 adolescents who visited an emergency department for motor vehicle accidents were assessed through self-report questionnaires assessing. Adolescents that have experienced a higher rates of motorbike collisions showed more maladaptive emotional–behavioral functioning and more difficulties to identify and describe their emotions. Further, lower perceived family support is associated with adolescents’ maladaptive functioning. These findings may help the planning of prevention programs for adolescents, based on the enhancing of the capacity of "listening" to and reflecting on one’s own feelings and mood.