Bivariate Correlations among the Variables of the Study

Bivariate correlations between all the variables of the study are presented in Table 7.

PTG, the first dependent variable of the study, was positively correlated with income level (r = .15, p < .05), timing of the event (r = .20, p < .01), perceived severity of the event (r = .49, p < .01), being passenger (r = .14, p < .05), conscientiousness (r = .16, p < .01), agreeableness (r = .28, p < .01), openness to experience (r = .16, p < .01), perceived social support (r = .15, p < .05), intrusive rumination (r = .46, p < .01), deliberate rumination (r = .62, p < .01), fatalistic coping (r = .51, p < .01), problem solving coping (r = .55, p < .01), helplessness coping (r = .37, p < .01), seeking support coping (r = .56, p < .01), change in positive driver behavior (r = .50, p < .01), total PTS score (r = .51, p < .01), intrusion (r = .48, p < .01), avoidance (r = .47, p < .01),hyperarousal (r = .44, p < .01), and negatively correlated with negative valence (r = –.12, p < .05).

PTS, the second dependent variable of the study, was correlated with being female (r = .12, p < .05), positively correlated with perceived severity of the event (r = .47, p < .01), agreeableness (r = .12, p < .05), neuroticism (r = .15, p < .05), intrusive rumination (r = .64, p < .01), deliberate rumination (r = .56, p < .01), fatalistic coping (r = .45, p < .01), problem solving coping (r = .29, p < .01), helplessness coping (r = .64, p < .01), seeking support coping (r = .41, p < .01), change in positive driver behavior (r = .41, p < .01), total score of PTG (r = .51, p < .01), new possibilities (r = .51, p < .01), spiritual change (r = .54, p < .01), relating to others (r = .37, p < .01), personal strength (r = .42, p < .01), and appreciation of life (r = .41, p < .01).