Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T15:37:41.240Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Explaining gender differences in self-regulated driving: what roles do health limitations and driving alternatives play?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2017

ANNE E. BARRETT ,
CLAYTON GUMBER  and
RACHEL DOUGLAS
ANNE E. BARRETT*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
CLAYTON GUMBER
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
RACHEL DOUGLAS
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
*
Address for correspondence: Anne E. Barrett, Department of Sociology, Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy, 636 W. Call St., Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1121, USA E-mail: abarrett@fsu.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

One of the strongest and most consistent predictors of self-regulated driving is gender, with women more likely than men to limit their driving in situations like bad weather or at night. However, studies have focused more on documenting these gender patterns than on explaining the processes underlying them, which may vary in their implications for transportation, health and ageing policy. Our study addresses this issue by examining two potential explanations for women's greater likelihood of self-regulated driving: their greater health limitations and use of driving alternatives. Using a nationally representative sample of older Americans (2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study, N = 4,842), we conducted logistic regressions predicting driving under four limitations: alone, at night, in rain or other bad weather and on highways. Our results provide stronger support for the driving alternatives explanation, especially women's greater reliance on rides from family and friends. Health limitations do contribute to explaining one of the self-regulated driving behaviours – avoiding driving alone. Our findings suggest that willingness to use driving alternatives is part of transitioning from driving. However, the relatively low use of all the alternatives we examined points to the importance of better understanding older adults’ transportation needs and preferences, including their gendered dimensions.

Keywords

transportationgendersocial networks
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 38 , Issue 10 , October 2018 , pp. 2122 - 2145
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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

Ackerman, M. L., Crowe, M., Vance, D. E., Wadley, V. G., Owsley, C. and Ball, K. K. 2011. The impact of feedback on self-rated driving ability and driving self-regulation among older adults. The Gerontologist, 51, 3, 367–78.Google Scholar
Addis, M. E. and Mahalik, J. R. 2003. Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. American Psychologist, 58, 1, 5–14.Google Scholar
American Public Transportation Association 2007. A Profile of Public Transportation Passenger Demographics and Travel Characteristics Reported in On-board Surveys. Washington DC. Available online at http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/transit_passenger_characteristics_text_5_29_2007.pdf [Accessed 25 September 2016].Google Scholar
Baldock, M. R. J., Mathias, J. L, McLean, A. J. and Berndt, A. 2006. Self-regulation of driving and its relationship to driving ability among older adults. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 38, 5, 1038–45.Google Scholar
Ball, K., Owsley, C., Stalvey, B., Roenker, D. L., Sloane, M. E. and Graves, M. 1998. Driving avoidance and functional impairment in older drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 30, 3, 313–22.Google Scholar
Baron, R. M. and Kenny, D. A. 1986. The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 6, 1173–82.Google Scholar
Bauer, M. J., Adler, G., Kuskowski, M. A. and Rottunda, S. 2003. The influence of age and gender on the driving patterns of older adults. Journal of Women Aging, 15, 4, 3–16.Google Scholar
Bergdahl, J. 2005. Sex differences in attitudes toward driving: a survey. The Social Science Journal, 42, 4, 595–601.Google Scholar
Brody, E. 2004. Women in the Middle: The Parent Care Years. Springer, New York.Google Scholar
Carmel, S., Rechavi, T. B. and Ben-Moshe, Y. 2014. Antecedents of self-regulation in driving among older drivers. Ageing & Society, 34, 7, 1097–117.Google Scholar
Charlton, J. L., Oxley, J., Fildes, B., Oxley, P., Newstead, S., Koppel, S. and O'Hare, M. 2006. Characteristics of older drivers who adopt self-regulatory driving behaviors. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 9, 5, 363–73.Google Scholar
Choi, M., Adams, K. B. and Kahana, E. 2012. The impact of transportation support on driving cessation among community-dwelling older adults. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological and Social Sciences, 67B, 3, 392–400.Google Scholar
Choi, M., Adams, K. B. and Kahana, E. 2013. Self-regulatory driving behaviors: gender and transportation support effects. Journal of Women & Aging, 25, 2, 104–18.Google Scholar
Choi, N. G. and DiNitto, D. M. 2016. Depressive symptoms among older adults who do not drive: association with mobility resources and perceived transportation barriers. The Gerontologist, 56, 3, 432–43.Google Scholar
Choi, M., Lohman, M. C. and Mezuk, B. 2013. Trajectories of cognitive decline by driving mobility: evidence from the Health and Retirement Study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29, 5, 447–53.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 & Health, 25, 8, S147–62.Google Scholar
D'Ambrosio, L., Donorfio, L. K. M., Coughlin, J. F., Mohyde, M. and Meyer, J. 2008. Gender differences in self-regulation patterns and attitudes toward driving among older adults. Journal of Women & Aging, 20, 3, 265–82.Google Scholar
Davey, J. A. 2007. Older people and transport: coping without a car. Ageing & Society, 27, 1, 49–65.Google Scholar
Dellinger, A. M., Sehgal, M., Sleet, D. A. and Barrett-Conner, E. 2001. Driving cessation: what do older former drivers tell us? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 49, 4, 431–5.Google Scholar
Donorfio, L. K. M., Mohyde, M., Coughlin, J. and D'Ambrosio, L. 2008. A qualitative exploration of self-regulation behaviors among older drivers. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 20, 3, 323–39.Google Scholar
Fonda, S. J., Wallace, R. B. and Herzog, A. R. 2001. Changes in driving patterns and worsening depressive symptoms among older adults. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological and Social Sciences, 56B, 6, S343–51.Google Scholar
Gallo, J. J., Rebok, G. W. and Lesikar, S. E. 1999. The driving habits of adults aged 60 years and older. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 47, 3, 335–41.Google Scholar
Giesel, F. and Rahn, C. 2015. Everyday life in the suburbs of Berlin: consequences for the social participation of aged men and women. Journal of Women & Aging, 27, 4, 330–51.Google Scholar
Gillespie, B. J., Lever, J., Frederick, D. and Royce, T. 2015. Close adult friendships, gender, and the life cycle. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32, 6, 706–36.Google Scholar
Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. and Siren, A. 2003. Deconstructing a gender difference: driving cessation and personal driving history of older women. Journal of Safety Research, 34, 383–8.Google Scholar
Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. and Wahlstrom, B. 1998. Why do older drivers give up driving? Accident Analysis and Prevention, 30, 3, 305–12.Google Scholar
Jiménez-Mejías, E., Prieto, C., Martínez-Ruiz, V., Luna del Castillo, J., Lardelli-Claret, P. and Jiménez-Moleón, J. 2014. Gender-related differences in distances travelled, driving behaviour and traffic accidents among university students. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 27, part A, 81–9.Google Scholar
Kasper, J. D. and Freedman, V. A. 2014. Findings from the 1st round of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS): introduction to a special issue. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 69B, supplement 1, S1–7.Google Scholar
Kasper, J. D. and Freedman, V. A. 2016. National Health and Aging Trends Study User Guide: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 Final Release. Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. Available online at http://nhats.org/scripts/documents/NHATS_User_Guide_R1R2R3R4R5_Final_Release_2016.pdf [Accessed 25 March 2017].Google Scholar
Kasper, J. D., Freedman, V. A. and Niefeld, M. R. 2012. Construction of Performance-based Summary Measures of Physical Capacity in the National Health and Aging Trends Study. NHATS Technical Paper 4, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. Available online at https://www.nhats.org/scripts/documents/NHATS_SPPB_Technical_Paper_Jul2013.pdf [Accessed 25 March 2017].Google Scholar
Kim, S. 2011. Transportation alternatives of the elderly after driving cessation. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2265, 170–6.Google Scholar
Kim, S. and Ulfarsson, G. F. 2015. Analysis of the transportation disadvantaged in an aging society. Paper presented at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 2015.Google Scholar
Kostyniuk, L. P. and Molnar, L. J. 2008. Self-regulatory driving practices among older adults: health, age and sex effects. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 40, 4, 1576–80.Google Scholar
Kostyniuk, L. P. and Shope, J. T. 2003. Driving and alternatives: older drivers in Michigan. Journal of Safety Research, 34, 4, 407–14.Google Scholar
MacKinnon, D. P. and Dwyer, J. H. 1993. Estimating mediated effects in prevention studies. Evaluation Review, 17, 2, 144–58.Google Scholar
McLaughlin, D., Vagenas, D., Pachana, N. A., Begum, N. and Dobson, A. 2010. Gender differences in social network size and satisfaction in adults in their 70s. Journal of Health Psychology, 15, 5, 671–9.Google Scholar
Mezuk, B. and Rebok, G. W. 2008. Social integration and social support among older adults following driving cessation. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63B, 5, S298–303.Google Scholar
Molnar, L. J., Charlton, J. L., Eby, D. W., Langford, J., Koppel, S., Kolenic, G. E. and Marshall, S. 2014. Factors affecting self-regulatory driving practices among older adults. Traffic Injury Prevention, 15, 3, 262–72.Google Scholar
Molnar, L. J. and Eby, D. 2008. The relationship between self-regulation and driving-related abilities in older drivers: an exploratory study. Traffic Injury Prevention, 9, 4, 314–9.Google Scholar
Montaquila, J., Freedman, V. A., Edwards, B. and Kasper, J. D. 2012 a. National Health and Aging Trends Study Round 1 Sample Design and Selection. NHATS Technical Paper 1, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. Available online at https://www.nhats.org/scripts/sampling/NHATS%20Round%201%20Sample%20Design%2005_10_12.pdf [Accessed 25 March 2017].Google Scholar
Montaquila, J., Freedman, V. A. and Kasper, J. D. 2012. National Health and Aging Trends Study Round 1 Income Imputation. Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. Available online at NHATS_Round1_Income_Imputation_11_09_12.pdf [Accessed 25 March 2017].Google Scholar
Montaquila, J., Freedman, V. A., Spillman, B. and Kasper, J. D. 2012 b. National Health and Aging Trends Study Development of Round 1 Survey Weights. NHATS Technical Paper 2, JohnsHopkinsUniversityofPublicHealth, Baltimore, Maryland. Available online at https://www.nhats.org/scripts/documents/NHATS_Round1_WeightingDescription_Nov2012.pdf [Accessed 25 March 2017].Google Scholar
Morgan, C., Winter, S. M., Classen, S., McCarthy, D. P. and Awadzi, K. D. 2009. Literature review on older adult gender differences for driving self-regulation and cessation. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 25, 2, 99–117.Google Scholar
Okonkwo, O. C., Wadley, V. G., Crowe, M., Roenker, D. L. and Ball, K. 2007. Self-regulation of driving in the context of impaired visual attention: are there gender differences? Rehabilitation Psychology, 52, 4, 421–8.Google Scholar
Oxley, J. and Charlton, J. 2011. Gender differences in attitudes to and mobility impacts of driving cessation. In Women's Issues in Transportation. Summary of the 4th International Conference, Volume 2: Technical Papers. Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 64–73.Google Scholar
Parker, D., Macdonald, L., Sutcliffe, P. and Rabbitt, P. 2001. Confidence and the older driver. Ageing & Society, 21, 2, 169–82.Google Scholar
Ragland, D. R., Satariano, W. A. and MacLeod, K. E. 2004. Reasons given by older people for limitation or avoidance of driving. The Gerontologist, 44, 2, 237–44.Google Scholar
Ragland, D. R., Satariano, W. A. and MacLeod, K. E. 2005. Driving cessation and increased depressive symptoms. Journals of Gerontology: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 60A, 3, 399–403.Google Scholar
Rieker, P. P. and Bird, C. E. 2005. Rethinking gender differences in health: why we need to integrate social and biological perspectives. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60B, 2, 40–7.Google Scholar
Rimmö, P. and Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. 2002. Older drivers’ aberrant driving behavior, impaired activity, and health as reasons for self-imposed driving limitations. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 5, 47–62.Google Scholar
Rosenbloom, S. 2004. Mobility of the elderly: good news and bad news. In Transportation in an Aging Society. A Decade of Experience. Technical Papers and Reports from a Conference. Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 3–21.Google Scholar
Ruechel, S. and Mann, W. C. 2005. Self-regulation of driving by older persons. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 23, 2/3, 91–101.Google Scholar
Skolarus, L. E., Burke, J. F. and Freedman, V. A. 2014. The role of accommodations in poststroke disability management. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 69B, supplement 1, S26–34.Google Scholar
Siren, A., Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. and Lindeman, A. 2004. Driving cessation and health in older women. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 23, 1, 58–69.Google Scholar
Turcotte, M. 2012. Profile of seniors’ transportation habits. Statistics Canada, Ontario. Available online at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2012001/article/11619-eng.pdf [Accessed 25 March 2017].Google Scholar
Vance, D. E., Roenker, D. L., Cissell, G. M., Edwards, J. D., Wadley, V. G. and Ball, K. K. 2006. Predictors of driving exposure and avoidance in a field study of older drivers from the state of Maryland. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 38, 4, 823–31.Google Scholar
Yoshikawa, A. and Bednarz, R. S. 2013. Gender differences in mobility adaptations of senior citizens: a case study of Yao City, Japan. Activities, Adaptation and Aging, 37, 4, 297–318.Google Scholar