Strategies for coping with psychological stress among individuals exposed to traffic accidents - a case study-

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the level of psychological stress and the coping strategies adopted by individuals exposed to road traffic accidents through a clinical investigation of two cases who had recently experienced traffic accidents. The study adopted the clinical method using clinical observation, semi-structured interviews, the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). The findings revealed that both cases suffered from psychological stress resulting from exposure to traffic accidents, although at different levels. The first case demonstrated a moderate level of perceived stress (0.51), whereas the second case showed a high level (0.74). The results also indicated differences in coping strategies. The first case mainly relied on task-oriented coping and avoidance strategies, while the second case predominantly used emotion-oriented coping. Furthermore, the study highlighted that coping strategies are influenced by several factors, including the severity of the accident, personality characteristics, social support, and previous traumatic experiences. The study concluded that road traffic accidents constitute a significant source of psychological stress and that coping strategies vary according to the individual's perception of the stressful event and their adaptive capacities. These findings emphasize the importance of psychological care and social support in reducing the psychological consequences of traffic accidents.