The psychosocial impacts of driving cessation in later life : experiences, coping, and well-being

Abstract

Older adults may face multiple and often overwhelming losses when they give up driving, creating a need for adjustment (Adler & Rottunda, 2006; M. J. Bauer, Rottunda, & Adler, 2003; Bedard & Kafka, 2008; Bonnel, 1999a; Carp, 1971; Cutler, 1972; Dellinger, Sehgal, Sleet, & Barrett-Connor, 2001; J.A. Kelley-Moore, J.G. Schumacher, E. Kahana, & B. Kahana, 2006; Liddle, Turpin, Carlson, & McKenna, 2008; Shope, 2003; Whitehead, Howie, & Lovell, 2006). Furthermore, driving cessation is related to poorer psychological well-being (Fonda, Wallace, & Herzog, 2001; Marottoli et al., 1997; Ragland, Satariano, & MacLeod, 2005; Windsor, Anstey, Butterworth, Luszcz, & Andrews, 2007). This thesis focuses on the impacts of no longer driving on psychological well-being, among an Australian population aged 65 years and above. Driving cessation literature is reviewed and embedded within the general context of older adult driving research. The Stress-Coping paradigm framework is adopted to better understand poorer well-being in relation to the post-cessation phase of driving within a broad spatial and temporal context. Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000a, 2000b; Ryan, 2009) and the Assimilative and Accommodative Model of Coping (Brandtstadter & Renner, 1990a, 1992) provide the theoretical foundations from which to examine the driving status-well-being relationship. Questions addressed include: What are the experiences of older adults who give up driving? What is the impact of driving cessation stressors on well-being? Why is driving cessation experienced negatively? And, does coping buffer the effects of driving cessation on well-being? The Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) (A. T. Beck & Alford, 2009; A. T. Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979; J. S. Beck, 1995) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (Luoma, et al., 2007) approaches to the conceptualisation and treatment of depressive symptoms generally, and specifically among older ex-drivers, and implications for policy makers are discussed. Show more