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    Driving status and health-related quality of life among the oldest old: a population-based examination using data from the AgeCoDe–AgeQualiDe prospective cohort study
    (Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2021-11) Hajek A; Brettschneider C; Lühmann D; van den Bussche H; Wiese B; Mamone S; Weyerer S; Werle J; Leve V; Fuchs A; Röhr S; Stein J; Bickel H; Mösch E; Heser K; Wagner M; Scherer M; Maier W; Riedel-Heller SG; Pentzek M; König H-H
    Background It is almost unknown whether the driving status is associated with HRQOL among individuals in highest age. Aims Based on a multicenter prospective cohort study, the objective of this study was to examine whether the driving status is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among the oldest old in Germany. Methods Cross-sectional data from follow-up wave 9 (n = 544) were derived from the “Study on Needs, health service use, costs and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (85+)” (AgeQualiDe). Average age was 90.3 years (± 2.7; 86 to 101 years). The current driver status (no; yes) was used in our analysis. The EuroQoL EQ-5D questionnaire was used to assess HRQOL in this study. Results Regression analysis showed that being a current driver was associated with the absence of problems in ‘self-care’ [OR 0.41 (95%-CI 0.17 to 0.98)], and ‘usual activities’ [OR 0.48 (0.26 to 0.90)], whereas it was not significantly associated with problems in ‘pain/discomfort’ [OR 0.82 (0.47 to 1.45)] and ‘anxiety/depression’ [OR 0.71 (0.36 to 1.39)]. Being a current driver was marginally significantly associated with the absence of problems in ‘mobility’ [OR 0.60 (0.34 to 1.06)]. While being a current driver was not associated with the EQ-VAS in the main model, it was positively associated with the driving status (β = 5.00, p < .05) when functional impairment was removed from the main model. Discussion Our findings provide first evidence for an association between driving status and HRQOL among the oldest old. Conclusions Future longitudinal studies are required to evaluate a possible causal relationship between driving status and HRQOL in very old individuals.
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    The effects of traffic congestion on Auckland commuters : an examination into the consequences and solutions of commuting stress for organizations : a thesis presented in a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2002) McCombe, Iain Keith
    Auckland's roadways are choked for up to two and a half hours every morning as employees commute to their jobs. Car ownership figures reported for Auckland are high in international comparison, the number of private cars is rising faster than the population. A quasi experimental field study was conducted on 33 Auckland commuters, as a pilot, to assess the effects of traffic congestion on state stress and job performance, using the State Driver Stress Inventory and peer and self assessments. A direct link between traffic congestion and job performance has not been studied before, however previous research posits to a relationship between traffic congestion and task performance. This study expands on previous work by including average speed and number of obstacles in its definition of the independent variable impedance. It was found that commuting by any mode of transport is regarded as stressful for some individuals. Heavily impeded participants had poorer peer ratings of performance. The State Driver Stress Inventory, travel logs, and behaviour bases observation scales received further validation and were found to be appropriate for New Zealand samples. Ways of minimising the impact of traffic congestion on commuters in the region are suggested. Limitations of the study and projected future investigations are discussed.
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    The older driver : studies of assessment and performance : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2001) Ciesionik, Anita M
    Internationally, people aged 65 and over are forming a rapidly increasing proportion of society (Heenan, 1993). New Zealand is no exception. By 2001, it is estimated that older people (people over the age of 65) will account for 11% of the New Zealand population (Statistics New Zealand, 1998). As the baby boom generation advances through their later years, and as life expectancy continues to improve, it has been predicted by Statistics New Zealand that by the year 2031, this figure will literally double, swelling to 22% (Statistics New Zealand, 1998). Tomorrow's aged population will be accustomed to the high levels of motorisation that have developed in the latter part of last century. With demographers predicting the number of older persons increasing both in total and as a proportion of the whole population (Land Transport Safety Authority, 1994), people aged over 65 will form a rapidly increasing proportion of New Zealand's road users. As such, it is important that as people age they can continue to travel and enjoy their mobility as freely and safely as other road users (Transportation Research Board, 1988).
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    The acquisition and severity of driving-related fears : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1996) Taylor, Joanne Elizabeth
    Rachman's theory of fear acquisition proposed that directly-conditioned fears would differ from indirectly-conditioned fears in magnitude and anxiety response patterns, however this theory has received inconsistent empirical support. The aim of the present study was to examine pathways of fear acquisition for a general community sample who reported driving-related fears. One hundred and ninety subjects completed a questionnaire which comprised three anxiety scales, a comprehensive set of fear onset items, a driving situations scale, and two scales related to experiences of and reactions to motor vehicle accidents, all used in prior research. Additional questionnaire items addressed self-reported driving-related fears, helpseeking behaviour, treatment needs of respondents not already in therapy, and driving history. Subjects completed the questionnaire for their most-feared driving-related situation. Results failed to support Rachman's predictions. However, results supported the prediction that respondents who had been involved in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) would be more likely to ascribe to the direct pathway than those who had not been involved in a motor vehicle accident. Post-hoc analyses comparing respondents who had and had not been involved in MVAs were conducted as a means of expanding the ability of the study to test the hypotheses. These analyses also failed to support the predictions derived from Rachman's theory. The theoretical and methodological implications of the findings are discussed, as are the implications of the results for professional psychological helpseeking following motor vehicle accidents and assessment of those with driving-related fears.