Presentation
A Structural Equation Model of Older Adults’ Driving Exposure and Avoidance Using Objective Driving Records
SessionA1 - Aging
Event Type
Lecture
Aging
TimeTuesday, October 11th10:45am - 11:00am EDT
LocationA708
DescriptionThis study presents a structural equation model of driving exposure and avoidance among older adults in the US. The model included 720 participants aged 65 and over in the Second Strategic Highway Research Program Naturalistic Driving Study. The significant relationships specified in the final model are: (1) older adults with deteriorating cognitive and physical functions had higher self-reported driving avoidance and exhibited less actual driving in challenging situations; (2) those with poorer health exhibited less driving exposure; (3) those with worsening visual function self-reported avoiding more situations; (4) those who lived alone tended to drive more overall as well as in challenging situations; and (5) self-reported avoidance of challenging situations has a direct inverse relationship with actual driving in those same situations. The modeling results can provide policymakers with information on designing effective interventions to promote driving mobility, which is central to the well-being of older adults in the US.