Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-31T16:51:46.841Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Is planning for driving cessation critical for the well-being and lifestyle of older drivers?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2014

Jacki Liddle ,
Trisha Reaston ,
Nancy Pachana ,
Geoffrey Mitchell  and
Louise Gustafsson
Jacki Liddle
Affiliation:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Trisha Reaston
Affiliation:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Nancy Pachana
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Geoffrey Mitchell
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Louise Gustafsson*
Affiliation:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Louise Gustafsson, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. Phone: +61 7 3365 2926. Email: [email protected].
Get access

Abstract

Background:

Driving cessation has demonstrated impacts on well-being and lifestyle. Despite the recognized reluctance of older people to plan for driving cessation, this study has identified a new group who has a stated plan to stop driving within 12 months. Although gradual reduction of driving has been documented as part of the usual driving cessation, this study explored the differences between retired drivers and those with a stated plan to retire within 12 months in sociodemographic, well-being and lifestyle outcomes.

Methods:

This study extracted all baseline data from a clinical trial exploring the effectiveness of a group program for older retiring and retired drivers. Sociodemographic data included age, gender, health status, educational level, and living situation. All participants completed measures related to episodes away from home, well-being, and lifestyle. These were compared using parametric and nonparametric statistical analysis.

Results:

Participants (n = 131) included 68 retired drivers (mean age 79.8 years) and 63 retiring drivers (mean age 77.8 years). Retiring drivers engaged in more episodes away from home (p = 0.03), and more social activities (p = 0.02), used less alternative transport (p < 0.001), displayed fewer anxiety (p = 0.05), and depressive (p = 0.01) symptoms, but demonstrated lower transport and lifestyle self-efficacy (p = 0.04).

Conclusion:

Both retired and retiring drivers require support for driving cessation and community engagement. Retiring drivers may be in a critical position to engage in driving cessation interventions to improve self-efficacy and begin adapting community mobility.

Keywords

Community mobilityalternative transportdepressionanxietyself-efficacy
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 26 , Issue 7 , July 2014 , pp. 1111 - 1120
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Almeida, O. P. and Almeida, S. A. (1999). Short versions of the geriatric depression scale: a study of their validity for the diagnosis of a major depressive episode according to ICD-10 and DSM-IV. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 14, 858–865.Google Scholar
Bartley, M. and O’Neill, D. (2010). Transportation and driving in longitudinal studies on ageing. Age and Ageing, 39, 631–636.Google Scholar
Berg-Weger, M., Meuser, T. M. and Stowe, J. (2013). Addressing individual differences in mobility transition counseling with older adults. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 56, 201–218. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2013.764374 Google Scholar
Blazer, D. G. (2002). Self-efficacy and depression in late life: a primary prevention proposal. Aging and Mental Health, 6, 315–324. doi: 10.1080/1360786021000006938 Google Scholar
Buys, L., Snow, S., van Megen, K. and Miller, E. (2012). Transportation behaviours of older adults: an investigation into car dependency in urban Australia. Australasian Journal of Ageing, 31, 181–186. doi: 10.1111/j.1741–6612.2011.00567.x Google Scholar
Byles, J. and Gallienne, L. (2012). Driving in older age: a longitudinal study of women in urban, regional, and remote areas and the impact of caregiving. Journal of Women and Aging, 24, 113–125. doi: 10.1080/08952841.2012.639661 Google Scholar
Choi, M., Mezuk, B., Lohman, M. C., Edwards, J. D., and Rebok, G. W. (2012). Gender and racial disparities in driving cessation among older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 24, 1364–1379. doi: 10.1177/0898264312460574 Google Scholar
Curl, A. L., Stowe, J. D., Cooney, T. M. and Proulx, C. M. (2013). Giving Up the Keys: How Driving Cessation Affects Engagement in Later Life. Gerontologist. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnt037 Google Scholar
Edwards, J. D., Ross, L. A., Ackerman, M. L., Small, B. J., Ball, K. K., Bradley, S., and Dodson, J. E. (2008). Longitudinal predictors of driving cessation among older adults from the ACTIVE clinical trial. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences, 63B, P6–12.Google Scholar
Edwards, J. D., Lunsman, M., Perkins, M., Rebok, G. W. and Roth, D. L. (2009a). Driving cessation and health trajectories in older adults. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences, 64A, 1290–1295.Google Scholar
Edwards, J. D., Perkins, M., Ross, L. A., and Reynolds, S. L. (2009b). Driving status and three-year mortality among community-dwelling older adults. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 64, 300–305. doi: 10.1093/gerona/gln019 Google Scholar
Freeman, E.E., Gange, S.J., Munoz, B., and West, S. K. (2006). Driving status and risk of entry into long-term care for older adults. American Journal of Public Health, 96, 1254–1259.Google Scholar
Garre-Olmo, J., Pujol, X. P., Garriga, O. T., Lopez-Pousa, S. and Vilalta-Franch, J. (2009). Biopsychosocial differences between drivers and non-drivers over the age of 74. Arch Gerontology and Geriatrics, 49, 355–359. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2008.11.012 Google Scholar
Herrera, A. P. et al. (2011). Emotional and cognitive health correlates of leisure activities in older Latino and Caucasian women. Psychology, Health, and Medicine, 16, 661–674. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2011.555773 Google Scholar
Johnson, J. E. (2008). Informal social support networks and the maintenance of voluntary driving cessation by older rural women. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 25, 65–72.Google Scholar
King, M. D. et al. (2011). Decoding the Miss Daisy Syndrome: an examination of subjective responses to mobility change. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 54, 29–52. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2010.522231 Google Scholar
Liddle, J., Gustafsson, L., Bartlett, H. and McKenna, K. (2012). Time use, role participation and life satisfaction of older people: Impact of driving status. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 59, 384–392. doi: 10.1111/j.1440–1630.2011.00956.x Google Scholar
Liddle, J. et al. (2013). Effect of a Group Intervention to Promote Older Adults’ Adjustment to Driving Cessation on Community Mobility: a randomized controlled trial. Gerontologist. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnt019 Google Scholar
Liddle, J. and McKenna, K. (2003). Older drivers and driving cessation. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 125–132.Google Scholar
Liddle, J., McKenna, K. and Broome, K. (2005). Older Road Users: From Driving Cessation to Safe Transportation. Canberra: Australian Transport Safety Bureau.Google Scholar
Liddle, J., McKenna, K. and Bartlett, H. (2007). Improving outcomes for older retired drivers: The UQDRIVE program. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 54, 303–306.Google Scholar
Liddle, J., Turpin, M., Carlson, G. and McKenna, K. (2008). The needs and experiences related to driving cessation for older people. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71, 379–388.Google Scholar
Lister, R. (1999). Loss of ability to drive following a stroke: The early experiences of three elderly people on discharge from hospital. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 514–520.Google Scholar
Lorig, K. et al. (1996). Outcome Measures for Health Education and Other Health Care Interventions. California: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Marottoli, R. A. et al. (1997). Driving cessation and increased depressive symptoms: Prospective evidence from the New Haven EPESE. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 45, 202–206.Google Scholar
Marottoli, R. A. et al. (2000). Consequences of driving cessation: Decreased out of home activity levels. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 55, 334–340.Google Scholar
Menec, V. H. (2003). The relation between everyday activities and successful aging: a 6-year longitudinal study. Journal of Gerontology B Psychological Science and Social Science, 58, S74–S82.Google Scholar
Meuser, T. M., Berg-Weger, M., Chibnall, J. T., Harmon, A. C. and Stowe, J. (2013). Assessment of Readiness for Mobility Transition (ARMT). A tool for mobility transition counselling with older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 32, 484–507.Google Scholar
Molnar, L. J. et al. (2013). Driving avoidance by older adults: is it always self-regulation? Accident Analysis and Prevention, 57, 96–104. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2013.04.010 Google Scholar
Molnar, L. J., et al. (2008). Promising Approaches for Promoting Lifelong Community Mobility. Ann Arbor, MI, USA: Transport Research Institute, University of Michigan. Google Scholar
Oxley, J. and Whelan, M. (2008). It cannot be all about safety: The benefits of prolonged mobility. Traffic Injury Prevention, 9, 367–378.Google Scholar
O’Connor, M. L., Edwards, J. D., Waters, M. P., Hudak, E. M., and Valdes, E. G. (2013). Mediators of the association between driving cessation and mortality among older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 25 (8 Suppl), 249S–269S. doi: 10.1177/0898264313497796 Google Scholar
Pachana, N. A. et al. (2007). Development and validation of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory. International Psychogeriatrics, 19, 103–114. doi: 10.1017/s1041610206003504 Google Scholar
Pfeiffer, E. (1975). A short portable mental status questionnaire for the assessment of organic brain deficit in elderly patients. Jolurnal of American Geriatrics Society, 23, 433–441.Google Scholar
Ragland, D. R., Satariano, W. A. and MacLeod, K. E. (2005). Driving cessation and increased depressive symptoms. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences, 60A, 399–403.Google Scholar
Sheikh, J. I. and Yesavage, J. A. (1986). Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontologist, 5, 165–173.Google Scholar
Utts, J. M. and Heckard, R. F. (2012). Mind of Statistics, 6th ed.. Boston: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.Google Scholar
Windsor, T. D., Anstey, K. J., Butterworth, P., Luszcz, M. A. and Andrews, G. R. (2007). The role of perceived control in explaining depressive symptoms associated with driving cessation in a longitudinal study. Gerontologist, 47, 215–223.Google Scholar
Yassuda, M. S., Wilson, J. J. and von Mering, O. (1997). Driving cessation: The perspective of senior drivers. Educational Gerontology, 23, 525–538.Google Scholar