The effects of demographics, functioning, and perceptions on the relationship between self-reported and objective measures of driving exposure and patterns among older adults

Molnar, Lisa J.; Eby, David W.; Vivoda, Jonathon M.; Bogard, Scott E.; Zakraksek, J.S.; Louis, Renée M. St.; Zanier, Nicole; Ryan, Lindsay H.; LeBlanc, David J.; Smith, Jacqui; Yung, Raymond; Nyquist, Linda; DiGuiseppi, Carolyn; Li, G; Mielenz, Thelma J.; Strogatz, David · 2018 · Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2018.02.026

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Summary

This study investigates the alignment between self-reported driving behaviors and objective GPS-derived measures among older adults, a critical issue given that self-reports of driving self-regulation may not accurately reflect actual driving patterns. The research aims to determine how strongly subjective and objective measures of driving exposure and avoidance behaviors correlate, and whether this relationship is moderated by demographics (gender, age), health and functioning, driving-related perceptions, and cognition. The study utilized data from the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) cohort, a multisite prospective study involving 2,131 participants aged 65–79. Objective driving data were collected via GPS/dataloggers installed in participants’ vehicles, while subjective data were gathered through comprehensive baseline questionnaires and in-person clinical assessments. The analysis employed a series of simple linear and logistic regression models to compare matched pairs of subjective and objective measures. For driving exposure, objective days and miles driven per week were significantly related to self-reported values, with women showing a closer match for days driven and men for miles driven. No significant age effects were observed for exposure measures. For driving patterns, logistic regressions revealed that objective avoidance of nighttime, rush hour, and high-speed driving was significantly associated with self-reported avoidance of these conditions, with the exception of left turns. Gender moderated these relationships; for instance, women were less likely to report avoiding rush hour or high-speed driving as their actual exposure to these conditions increased, whereas men were more likely to report avoiding unfamiliar areas as their driving remained closer to home. Age significantly influenced the relationship only for rush hour avoidance, with the association weakening as age increased. A multivariable analysis examined the overall discrepancy between subjective and objective avoidance behaviors. The study found that the match between self-reports and actual driving was significantly stronger for women, individuals without cognitive decline, those with more health or functioning problems, and those with lower perceived driving ability and comfort. These findings suggest that individuals with poorer physical functioning and less confidence in their driving are more sensitive to their declines, leading to a better correspondence between their self-assessments and actual behavior. The results highlight that while self-reports are generally correlated with objective data, the accuracy varies by specific driving behavior and is influenced by individual characteristics, with gender and cognitive status playing notable roles in the validity of self-reported driving self-regulation.

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