Young adults are more likely to experience driving accidents due to their lack of experience, inclination to take risks, and incidents of driving under the influence. A recent study investigates how commuter college students’ mental health affects their likelihood of being involved in crashes, particularly noting the additional challenges this poses for their education, especially in transit-restricted South Florida.
Adults in their youth face a heightened risk of driving accidents, attributed to their inexperience behind the wheel, risk-taking behaviors, and incidents of impaired driving. While existing research has explored crashes related to demographics like age, gender, and socioeconomic background, there is a lack of studies connecting mental health issues to driving accidents.
A new study by Florida Atlantic University addresses this critical gap by investigating the relationship between mental health issues among commuter college students and their accident risk. Commuter students, who are frequently older, manage family responsibilities, or come from lower-income backgrounds, face significant disruptions from vehicular accidents, which can adversely affect their education and personal growth. The researchers focused on this demographic due to the limited public transportation options available in South Florida, intensifying the need for driving.
During a randomized controlled trial conducted in 2022, FAU researchers compiled baseline data on commuter behaviors and found a worrying incidence of mental health challenges and self-reported vehicle crashes among the participants. For this study, they collected information about crashes and mental health from commuter students who drive within the previous months.
The findings, published in the Journal of Transport & Health, revealed alarming trends in mental health among the 289 respondents, who generally ranged in age from 16 to 63, with a focus on traditional college ages of 18 to 22.
Participants reported the following on average:
- 9.9 days per month of poor mental health
- 8.7 days feeling depressed
- 12 days experiencing anxiety
- 12.7 days with insomnia
- 7.7 days limited in activity due to health issues
- 11 days in good physical and mental health
Additionally, key crash-related findings included:
- Students who were caretakers for an adult were more likely to experience a crash.
- Those with a higher GPA were less likely to be involved in a crash (averaging 2.82 for crash participants vs. 3.29 for non-crash participants).
- In contrast to many other studies, gender did not significantly affect crash risks.
- Students facing socioeconomic disadvantages (identified by Pell Grant eligibility and first-generation student status) had a higher crash risk.
- Hispanic students showed a higher likelihood of being involved in crashes.
- Older students were less likely to be in a crash, although this was not statistically significant.
Factors such as parental status, full-time work, and commuting times did not show a significant impact on crash risk.
“Our findings indicate a correlation rather than causation, suggesting that students with poor mental health might be at greater risk of being in a crash,” noted Dr. Louis A. Merlin, the study’s senior author and associate professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “However, it’s possible for causality to run in both directions—experiencing a crash can negatively affect mental health, while poor mental health can increase the likelihood of crashes.”
The researchers proposed that the connection between mental health and crash risk might stem from the distraction or fatigue caused by negative feelings associated with anxiety or depression, which can hinder drivers from maintaining focus.
“Instead of concentrating on their driving, they might be preoccupied with concerns about exams, personal setbacks, or future uncertainties,” added Merlin. “This level of distraction can jeopardize attentiveness during driving, ultimately elevating the risk of accidents.”
In regions where students primarily walk, bike, or rely on public transport, vehicle accidents may pose less of a concern. The significant presence of mental health issues among students in this study mirrors similar patterns observed on college campuses across the U.S. in recent years.
“Car accidents can have severe repercussions for commuting students, leading to detrimental health and financial outcomes. Therefore, finding effective strategies to reduce such incidents is essential,” said Merlin. “If we can identify low-cost ways to help students avoid being involved in vehicle crashes, we can enhance academic success for a larger number of students, which is our ultimate objective.”
The researchers recommend that by providing alternative transport options for commuter students, colleges could alleviate student expenses and the financial strain of accidents. Promoting public transit use also contributes to a reduction in campus-related greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the elevated accident rates among students with mental health difficulties emphasize the need for accessible, affordable, and quality mental health resources on college campuses.
Co-authors of this project include Dr. David Simpson, an assistant professor in the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work at FAU; Dr. Katherine Freeman, leader of Biostatistics Collaborative Core and a professor of biomedical sciences at FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine; Dr. Serena Hoermann, interim director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at FAU; and Dr. John Renne, former professor and director in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at FAU.
This research was made possible by a grant from The Kresge Foundation (Grant No. G-1905-283549).
