Anxiety, depression may lead to mistakes

A study that examined the driving risks for teens found that stress and depression increased the likelihood that they would engage in risky driving tactics, according to researchers at Queensland University of Technology.

While the trial only looked at teenagers, the findings add weight to theories that mental conditions like anxiety, stress and depression lead people to make unsound decisions.

The researchers’ study involved about 760 teenage drivers and found that feelings of anxiousness or sadness were responsible for 8.5 percent of the dangerous driving that occurred.

“We already know that psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, has been linked to risky behavior in adolescents including unprotected sex, smoking and high alcohol consumption,” said lead author Bridie Scott-Parker.

Results of this study suggest that employees who have high levels of stress, which have been shown to lead to depression, may end up making bad decisions in the workplace. Employee wellness programs that include tools and resources for stress management may help to ease the minds of staff members while promoting their overall health.