Gender Differences in Self-Regulation Patterns and Attitudes Toward Driving Among Older Adults

Abstract

The automobile is essential for many older adults to fulfill their daily needs, especially since many live where they lack access to public transit or other acceptable modes of transportation. Increased self-regulation is one way older drivers continue to drive safely and maintain mobility. This research considers whether self-regulation attitudes and patterns differ by gender. Results indicate that women and men report distinct patterns of self-regulation behaviors. Age, health status, and household status also interact with gender, influencing the extent of self-regulation. The results also show that women report lower levels of confidence in their driving skills than men, although the difference varies based on whether or not a woman lives alone. Implications of these results are considered for an aging population--particularly women--that over the coming decades will be more reliant on the automobile for transportation than ever before.

Self-Regulation of Driving Behavior in People with Parkinson Disease

“…The finding of greater situational driving avoidance among women than men with PD agrees with studies of older drivers (Bauer et al, 2003;D'Ambrosio et al, 2008;Gwyther and Holland, 2012), but differs from recent findings of no sex-specific difference in the self-regulation practices of a sample of drivers with PD (Crizzle et al, 2013a).…”

Assessing the relationship between the Driver Behavior Questionnaire and the Driver Skill Inventory: Revealing sub-groups of drivers

“…A possible explanation could be that this cluster consists of the second oldest drivers where more than half are women. Previous findings suggest that older women rate their driving skills less positive than men (Ruechel & Mann, 2005) and also have lower confidence in their driving (D'Ambrosi, Donofio, Coughlin, Mohyde, & Meyer, 2008). Considering this, the lack of consistency between the DBQ and the DSI found in relation to cluster four is not surprising.…”

To drive or not to drive, that isn't the question—the meaning of self-regulation among older drivers

“…This paper will outline the qualitative findings from the open-ended questions in Phase II of this project. Findings from Phase I have been reported previously , as well as some of the quantitative findings from Phase II related to gender differences in self-regulation attitudes and behaviors (D'Ambrosio, Donorfio, Coughlin, Mohyde, & Meyer, 2008) and family conversations surrounding driving .…”