Skip Navigation



The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Advance Access published online on January 30, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, doi:10.1093/gerona/gln019
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
64A/2/300    most recent
gln019v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Edwards, J. D.
Right arrow Articles by Reynolds, S. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Edwards, J. D.
Right arrow Articles by Reynolds, S. L.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Driving Status and Three-Year Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Jerri D. Edwards1, Martinique Perkins2, Lesley A. Ross2 and Sandra L. Reynolds1

1 School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa
2 Department of psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Address correspondence to Jerri D. Edwards, PhD, School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, MHC 1326, Tampa, FL 33620. Email: jedwards1{at}cas.usf.edu


  Abstract

Background.: Driving cessation can lead to myriad negative consequences for older adults. The purpose of these analyses was to examine driving status as a predictor of mortality among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods.: This prospective cohort study included 660 community-dwelling adults ranging in age between 63 and 97 years. Between 2000 and 2004, participants completed performance-based assessments of vision, cognition, and physical abilities and indexes of health, depression, self-efficacy, and driving habits. Follow-up telephone interviews were completed approximately 3 years later.

Results.: Among community-dwelling older adults, older age, health, poor near visual acuity, depressive symptoms, compromised cognitive status, and being a nondriver are associated with increased risk for a 3-year mortality. Nondrivers were four to six times more likely to die than drivers during the subsequent 3-year period.

Conclusions.: The ability to drive represents both a sign of cherished independence and underlying health and well-being for older adults. Retaining this ability is an important health concern in the United States.

Keywords Driving cessation; Mortality; Older drivers

Received: March 4, 2008; Accepted: May 8, 2008

Decision Editor: Darryl Wieland, PhD, MPH


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.