The purpose of this study was to examine five possible models of negative emotionality using the short version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) in a large sample of non‐clinical adolescents (N = 677). The results from our confirmatory factor analysis reveal that negative emotionality in adolescents is best represented by the tripartite model. Our findings are in line with other studies regarding the structure of negative emotionality in adolescents and provide support for the validity of the tripartite model of negative emotionality underlying the DASS‐21 in adolescent boys and girls. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The aim of this study is to further establish the validity and reliability of the Dula Dangerous Driving Index (DDDI). The reliability and validity of the instrument was investigated by comparing data from a US university sample, a US community sample, and a sample of Belgian traffic offenders. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported the presence of a four-factor structure with items for Drunk Driving forming a separate scale apart from items for Risky Driving, Negative Cognitive/Emotional Driving and Aggressive Driving. A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis with model constraints supported the validity of the DDDI. Inter-correlations revealed that the DDDI subscales are closely interrelated and uni-dimensionality of the measure was found in all three samples. This suggests the DDDI Total score can be used as a composite measure for dangerous driving. However, the validity of the subscales was demonstrated in the Belgian sample, as specific traffic offender groups (convicted for drunk driving, aggressive driving, speeding) scored higher on corresponding scales (Drunk Driving, Aggressive Driving, and Risky Driving, respectively), indicating that it is clinically meaningful to differentiate the subscales.Numerous studies have documented that aggressive driving is indeed a real problem (e.g., Canada Safety Council, 2001;Joint, 1995;Lajunen & Parker, 2001;Mizell, 1997;Sarkar et al., 2000;Rathbone & Huckabee, 1999; U.S. Department of Transportation, USDOT, 1998), though how much damage is done and whether or not it is increasing is a matter of debate (e.g., James & Nahl, 2000;Martinez, 1997;Sullman et al., 2007; USDOT, 1998). However, it seems aggressive driving is a construct that remains unclear in much of the literature. The following serves to elucidate the issue and provide the rationale for the division of the breadth of coverage in the Dula Dangerous Driving Index (DDDI) and its division into distinct subscales.A critical feature of interpersonal aggression is intent to harm, either psychologically (as with insults or gestures) or physically (e.g., Baron & Richardson, 1994; Geen & O'Neil, 1976; Goldstein, 1994;Felson, 2000). When applied to a vehicular context, intention is often implied but usually not truly known. A variety of aggressive driving definitions have been posited (e.g., Connell & Joint, 1996;Joint, 1995;Ellison-Potter, Bell, & Deffenbacher, 2001;Gulian, Matthews, Glendon, & Davies, 1989;James & Nahl, 2000;Mizell, 1997;Sarkar et al., 2000;Shinar, 1998); however, a common factor is that all include behaviors and cognitive and/or emotional states that make the driving situation more dangerous. Dula and Geller (2004) highlighted problems with defining driver aggression and posited that it is more useful to construe aggression as but one facet of dangerous driving. Dangerous driving encompasses Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the...

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This study investigates the effects of six types of social support on distress and posttraumatic stress disorders in security guards who did and did not encounter a critical incident. Three types of social support were significantly related to distress and posttraumatic stress disorder: emotional support in problem situations, instrumental support, and social companionship. Emotional support in problem situations paradoxically appeared to have an aggravating effect on distress and posttraumatic stress, whereas instrumental support and social companionship had a mitigating outcome.

This study examines the relationship between adult attachment and psychological distress in a population of 544 people working for a security company and for the Belgian Red Cross. The results indicate that fearful-avoidant and preoccupied attached individuals report more stress than secure attached and insecure attached individuals of the dismissive type. Next, the same attachment styles appear to differentiate between individuals who do and individuals who do not develop a post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) after being confronted with a critical incident. Breaking the attachment styles into the two underlying dimensions of attachment anxiety and avoidance, our results suggest that anxiety is more of an issue than avoidance in psychological distress and the occurrence of PTSD.