Internality and externality correlates of potential drivers among high school pupils in Holon (Israel)

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Brook, U.^; | Weitzman, A.

Affiliations: E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel | Psychiatric Department, Geha Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel

Note: [] Correspondence to: U. Brook, M.D., E. Wolfson Medical Center, P.O. Box 5, Holon 58100, Israel.

Abstract: Car accidents are the leading causes of death and handicap among adolescents and young adults. Thirty-six pupils from the last class in high school (in the age group 17–18 years) have attended lectures with explanations concerning the consequences of car accidents by physicians of rehabilitation centers. They also were taken on a one-day visit to such a center. They have seen and talked with persons who were severely handicapped because of car accidents, and have followed the physical therapists and occupational healing therapists throughout their work day. The pupils completed the Rotter and Montag Internality-Externality Scale questionnaire before and after the meeting and staging with the handicaps, and the results showed an increase of 10.28% in their Internal focus of control. The conclusion is that confrontation of young future drivers with handicaps as a result of car accidents in rehabilitation centers should be a routine and regular habit during the last classes of high school.

Keywords: Car accidents, High school pupils, Focus of control, Prevention

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-1994-4306

Journal: International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 223-228, 1994