Kyle Suhr

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• Suhr, K. A., & Dula, C. S. (2017). The dangers of rumination on the road: Predictors of risky driving.. Accident; analysis and prevention, 99(Pt A), 153-160. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2016.10.026
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  Past studies found many different types of factors can influence dangerous driving behaviors. Driver inattention, such as driving under the influence or using a cell phone while driving, was found to contribute to risky driving behaviors. Rumination is a cognitive process that may also contribute to risky driving behaviors due to its influence on attention and limited executive processes. The present study explores the potential role of rumination in dangerous driving behavior endorsement. It was hypothesized that trait rumination would be significantly related to dangerous driving behaviors and that this relationship would be conditional to the sex of the participant. Six-hundred and fifty-three Southeastern university students were recruited to participate and asked to complete multiple questionnaires measuring anger rumination, thought content, driving anger, and dangerous driving behaviors. It was demonstrated that self-reported risky driving behaviors significantly predicted dangerous driving behavior endorsement on the Dula Dangerous Driving Index. Trait rumination scores were found to predict self-reported dangerous driving, aggressive driving, and risky driving behaviors as well as trait driving anger scores. However, no conditional effects based on the sex of the participant were found. It appeared males and females were equally likely to report dangerous driving behaviors, driving anger thoughts, and trait anger rumination. Findings from the current study may assist in understanding how cognitive processes influence different driving behaviors and help develop methods to re-direct attention to safe driving behaviors, and conversely away from ruminative thoughts that increase the likelihood of dangerous driving.
• Suhr, K. (2016). Mulling over anger: Indirect and conditional indirect effects of thought content and trait rumination on aggressive driving. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 42. doi:10.1016/j.trf.2016.07.016
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  Previous research has found that the content of thoughts and rumination influences driving anger and aggressive driving; however, no research to date has observed how the specific thoughts and process of rumination may directly or indirectly influence aggressive driving behaviors. The present research explores the potential roles of thought content and rumination on aggressive driving to improve our understanding of factors that influence aggressiveness in driving situations. The current study recruited 262 Southeastern University students, who completed a number of questionnaires measuring anger rumination, thought content, driving anger, and aggressive driving behaviors tendencies. Results demonstrated that trait driving anger imposed partial indirect effects on aggressive driving behaviors through specific angry thoughts. In addition, this partial indirect effect was conditional to the degree of coping thoughts. These findings may help advance the understanding of the roles content of thoughts and rumination play in aggressive driving behaviors.
• Suhr, K. A., & Nesbit, S. M. (2013). Dwelling on ‘Road Rage’: The effects of trait rumination on aggressive driving. Transportation Research Part F-traffic Psychology and Behaviour. doi:10.1016/j.trf.2013.10.001
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  Previous research has consistently found a relationship between driving anger and aggressive driving. Some research focusing on the content of thoughts has helped to account for this relationship; however, there is a paucity of research on how specific styles of thinking, such as the tendency to ruminate, impacts aggressive driving behavior. Guided by theories illustrating the impact of rumination on negative emotions, the present research explores the role of rumination in the prediction of aggressive driving. Study 1 demonstrated that an angry ruminative response style partially mediated the relationship between trait driving anger and history of aggressive driving behaviors. Study 2 used a manipulation of thinking style and examined more immediate reactions to a provoking driving scenario using guided imagery. When given rumination instructions, trait rumination mediated the effect of angry mood ratings on intended aggressive driving behavior ratings. However, when distraction instructions were provided, trait rumination did not influence aggressive driving behavior intention ratings while driving. Findings are interpreted from the perspective of advancing the understanding of the role of rumination in anger experience and expression, with suggestions for prevention and treatment.