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To be or not to be (an older driver): social identity theory and driving cessation in later life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

NANCY A. PACHANA ,
JOLANDA JETTEN ,
LOUISE GUSTAFSSON  and
JACKI LIDDLE
NANCY A. PACHANA*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
JOLANDA JETTEN
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
LOUISE GUSTAFSSON
Affiliation:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
JACKI LIDDLE
Affiliation:
Queensland Brain Institute and UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
*
Address for correspondence: Nancy A. Pachana, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia E-mail: npachana@psy.uq.edu.au
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Abstract

Anticipated driving cessation required due to health or cognitive decline often evokes concerns about practical aspects of retaining mobility and quality of life as well as personal and social identity changes in older persons. While driving cessation is often perceived as stressful because it disrupts peoples' lives and poses practical hurdles, we argue that part of the stress associated with driving cessation can be attributed to identity change with regard to thinking of oneself as ‘no longer a driver’ as well as the perception of ‘getting old’. In an exploratory study, 208 older adults who had either ceased driving or had a plan to stop driving in the near future completed a ‘Driver Identity Survey’ with multiple questions about how they thought they would feel before and after stopping driving, as well as worries about practical hassles, life changes and changed relationships. Participants reported driving cessation as a significant life event associated with subjectively feeling older. Irrespective of current driving status, older participants identified the state of having ceased driving as associated with feeling older than their chronological age. Participants' expectations about practicalities and social identity changes were both significant predictors of stress associated with driving cessation. Discussion focuses on how expectations of anticipated changes in functionality and identity may influence driving cessation decisions and adjustment in later life.

Keywords

ageingdrivingdriving cessationolder adultssocial identity
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 37 , Issue 8 , September 2017 , pp. 1597 - 1608
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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