Citation

Schryer E, Boerner K, Horowitz A, Reinhardt JP, Mock SE. J. Appl. Gerontol. 2017; ePub(ePub): 733464817741683.

Affiliation

University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0733464817741683

PMID

29183239

Abstract

Older adults with vision loss and a friend or family member were interviewed over a 2-year period. We examined the effects of driving cessation on life satisfaction among older adults and a social contact. Drivers' use of public transportation was examined as a moderator. Driving cessation was associated with a decline in life satisfaction among social partners but not for the drivers. Drivers' use of public transportation at baseline moderated the effects of cessation on changes in well-being among social partners, but had little effect on the life satisfaction of the drivers. Life satisfaction was greater among the social partners of ex-drivers who used public transportation more frequently. The association between driving cessation and well-being should be studied in the context of older drivers' social networks. Infrastructure (e.g., subways and buses) that supports transportation needs plays an important role in mitigating the effects of cessation on older adults' social networks.

Language: en

Keywords

driving cessation; life satisfaction; public transportation; social network; social partners; vision loss