Personality traits as behavioral determinants of road traffic injury risk
A mechanism-informed cross-sectional analysis
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22077665 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anderson Cheong (0000-0002-2349-1549, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Nik Hisamuddin Nik Ab Rahman (Emergency Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Abd Rahman N (Universiti Sains Malaysia), Wan Hafiz Irshad Wan Mohd Zuhdi (Universiti Sains Malaysia) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Pages | 1842790-1842790 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-03 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1842790 |
| PMID | 42317981 |
| OpenAlex | W7163328751 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 22 |
Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) remain a major global public health burden and a leading cause of mortality, particularly among individuals aged 5-29 years. While environmental and infrastructural determinants have been widely studied, the role of individual behavioral predispositions, including personality traits, remains underexplored. This study examines the association between the Big Five personality traits and RTI risk within a behavioral and injury prevention framework. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study with a case-control analytical framework was conducted in two tertiary centers in Kelantan, Malaysia. Adults aged 18-60 years with RTIs were recruited from emergency departments, while controls were randomly selected from outpatient populations. Personality traits were assessed using the validated Bahasa Malaysia version of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the associations between personality traits and RTI risk, adjusting for relevant confounders. Results: A total of 425 participants were included (229 RTI cases and 196 controls) in the study. The RTI group demonstrated marked male predominance. The distribution of personality traits was comparable between the groups. In adjusted analyses, agreeableness and neuroticism were significantly associated with an increased risk of RTIs [OR 1.12, 95% CI (1.03-1.21); OR 1.10, 95% CI (1.03-1.18), respectively]. Conclusion: Personality traits may contribute to RTI risk through behavioral mechanisms involving emotional regulation, attention control, and decision-making. These findings support an integrated model of RTI risk incorporating both behavioral and environmental factors, with implications for targeted road safety and public health interventions
Agreeableness · Big Five personality traits · Injury prevention · Logistic regression · Neuroticism · Personality · Poison control · Suicide prevention · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Injury Epidemiology and Prevention · Traffic and Road Safety
| Highly cited | No |
|---|