Jessica Burrai

Young people engage in a variety of behaviours that can have an impact on their health and safety, including driving and road accidents, which represent a major health issue today. Emotions, and in particular emotional regulation (ER), interact significantly with key elements of driving behaviour, such as risk perception, decision-making, and attention. We carried out a systematic review considering the presence of an association between emotional (dys)regulation and driving behaviour of young adults (18–25 years). A total of 1849 records were selected for screening and, finally, eight full-text articles were included. Two main findings were found: on the one hand, driving anger, unlike other emotional patterns, emerged as a well-defined cause of impairment among young drivers. On the other hand, drivers’ risky behaviour seems to be influenced by a heterogeneous set of factors, such as using specific ER strategies or personality traits (e.g., impulsivity). Expressing one’s emotions adaptively, improving the ability to accept and be aware of negative emotions, and controlling impulsive behaviour could reduce driving risks in young drivers.

Background: Young adults, aged between 17 and 25 years, experienced a strong impact on both their mental health and well-being due to COVID-19. Indeed, they were simultaneously faced with the normative tasks of their age and stressors associated with the long-lasting COVID-19 pandemic. This study offers further insights into the perceptions of the well-being (stress, anxiety, and depression) and social bonds in young Italian adults during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The first survey was conducted between December and February 2021 (i.e., during the second wave in Italy) and included a total sample of 347 participants. The second survey took place between April and May 2022 (i.e., at the end of the health emergency in Italy) and consisted of a total sample of 313 participants. Results: T-tests, correlations, and linear regressions were performed. Overall, our findings showed an increased mood disturbance was positively correlated with having contracted COVID-19 and negatively associated with social connectedness. Furthermore, social assurance was found to negatively predict mood disorders during COVID-19. Conclusion: While numerous studies have focused on mental health, there has been limited exploration of protective factors, which could represent a different perspective that emphasizes individuals’ resources rather than their vulnerabilities.