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The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences Advance Access originally published online on April 9, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 2009 64B(3):348-355; doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp017
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© 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.

Poor Sense of Direction Is Associated With Constricted Driving Space in Older Drivers

Kathleen A. Turano1, Beatriz Munoz1,2, Shirin E. Hassan3, Donald D. Duncan4, Emily W. Gower1,2, Karen B. Roche5, Lisa Keay2,6, Cynthia A. Munro7 and Sheila K. West1,2

1 Wilmer Eye Institute
2 Dana Center for Preventative Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
3 Indiana University School of Optometry, Bloomington
4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
5 Department of Biostatistics, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
6 George Institute for International Health, Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
7 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Address correspondence to Kathleen A. Turano, PhD, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Wilmer Room 129, Baltimore, MD 21205. Email: kturano1{at}jhmi.edu


  Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine whether perceived sense of direction was associated with the driving space of older drivers and whether the association was different between genders. Participants (1,425 drivers aged 67–87 years) underwent a battery of visual and cognitive tests and completed various questionnaires. Sense of direction was assessed using the Santa Barbara Sense of Direction (SBSOD) scale. Driving space was assessed by both the driving space component of the Driving Habits Questionnaire and log maximum area driven. Analyses were performed using generalized linear models. The SBSOD score was lower in women than in men and significantly associated with log driving area in women but not in men. The SBSOD score also showed a significant association with women’s self-reported driving restriction. The findings emphasize the need to explore the role of psychological factors, and include gender, in driving studies and models.

Key Words: Drivers • Driving restriction • Driving space • Gender • Navigational ability • Sense of direction

Received April 4, 2008; Accepted January 11, 2009

Decision Editor: Rosemary Blieszner, PhD


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