In “Aches and Pains: How Do They Affect Transitions from Driving?” Anne E. Barrett, Ph.D., and co-authors examine the effect of chronic pain on transitions from driving. The authors hypothesize that pain influences driving-related outcomes. Their statistical analyses show that experiencing more pain that interferes with driving is associated with worse self-rated driving ability, more frequent self-regulated driving, and greater planning for driving retirement. However, pain is not associated with driving frequency or with anticipating that driving retirement will occur in the next five years.
Dr. Barrett and her co-authors’ findings indicate that greater pain may hasten the planning and transition away from driving. According to the authors, these patterns suggest that pain may increase people’s risk of isolation and other negative outcomes that can follow driving retirement. However, pain’s effect on planning may reduce these risks. By focusing on transitioning from driving, this article reveals a largely overlooked benefit of reducing pain: extending people’s years behind the wheel. Moreover, the authors’ findings are relevant for both transportation and health care policies.
Chronic pain affects more than one in four middle-aged to older adults and can have important consequences for everyday behaviors such as driving. Research studying the connection between pain and driving has not explored driving-related behaviors and self-assessments that may signal the start of a transition from driving. The article by Dr. Barret and her co-authors contributes to this literature by focusing on several experiences related to transitioning from driving.
