Quality of Life Among Older Drivers and Nondrivers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore and compare the differences between driving and nondriving older adults over age 65 and the effects on their quality of life. The concern for older adults who have had a decrease in quality of life due to a cessation of driving has been documented in the occupational therapy profession. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (2012), driving and community mobility are essential for independence, employment, and social and leisure activities. Occupational therapists focus on enhancing participation and measure community mobility and driving in older adults (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2012).

DESIGN: This quantitative research was conducted through administration of a paper-based survey among older adults who were currently driving and who had ceased driving. Participants included in this study were over age 65, spoke English, and were currently driving or had ceased driving. Older adults who had never driven and who did not speak English were excluded from this study. This descriptive research design was analyzed to simplify the results by graphs and tables. Participants were recruited from an independent living facility in Leon County, Florida. Prior to conducting the survey, copies of recruitment letters, consent forms, and flyers were provided to each activity director via email.

METHOD: Each participant completed a nine-question survey that took approximately 15 min to complete and that measured productivity and social participation in driver and nondriver older adults. The Community Integration Questionnaire (Willer, Rosenthal, Kreutzer, Gordon, & Rempel, 1993) was modified to enhance the validity of particular variables. The collected data from the participants’ surveys were entered into IBM SPSS Statistics and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS: Data were collected from participants between the two independent variables. The first independent variable was between drivers and nondrivers. The second independent variable was between men and women. The dependent variable was quality of life. The ratio between drivers and nondrivers was 86:16. A significant difference between drivers’ and nondrivers’ quality of life was found by obtaining p value = .000 (p < .05). Participants who were currently driving had higher scores (M = 16.19, SD = 2.29) than participants who had ceased driving (M = 9.56, SD = 2.94). The ratio between men and women was 39:63. No significant interaction between male and female was found by obtaining p value = .123 (p < .05).

CONCLUSION: Overall, the results of this study signify lower quality of life among older adults who had ceased driving in comparison with older adults who continued driving after age 65. Older adults who cease driving experience a significant impact on their social participation and productivity in the community. This decreases older adults’ independence and ability to engage in meaningful activities.

IMPACT STATEMENT: Today’s older adult population is composed largely of the baby boomer generation. They are one of the largest and fastest-growing populations, with a longer life expectancy than ever before. They also are the first generation to use the newest medical and public health services, which enable them to live longer; thus, some of them are still driving despite their current health conditions. The older adults used the majority of resources available to them, such as carpooling, public transportation, local transportation services, and special services. The assumption the researchers are making is that older adults’ quality of life will decrease after ceasing driving due to a loss of personal independence, social isolation, and reduction in or lack of access to essential services. One who ceases driving tends to lose the independence and the ability to engage in meaningful activities. This could further decrease quality of life and well-being among older adults. Occupational therapists can educate individuals on safety precautions, adaptive devices, and available community resources such as private and public transportation.

References

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2012). The occupational therapy role in driving and community mobility across the lifespan. Retrieved from http://www.aota.org/About-Occupational-Therapy/Professionals/CY/Driving-Across-Lifespan.aspx

Willer, B., Rosenthal, M., Kreutzer, S. J., Gordon, A. W., & Rempel, R. (1993). Assessment of community integration following rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 8, 75–85.