Individualized assessment is important when counseling older adults concerning the transition from driving to nondriving mobility. This study validated a measure of emotional and attitudinal readiness in support of mobility transition counseling (MTC). Items derived from a mixed-methods approach were administered by mailed questionnaire to community-dwelling adults (n = 297; ages 57-95). Factor analysis was employed to form the 24-item Assessment of Readiness for Mobility Transition (ARMT). The ARMT–Total Score (ARMT-TS) demonstrated sound internal consistency and split-half reliability (.88 each). The ARMT-TS correlated as hypothesized with validity measures, including self-reported physical functioning, mental health, and openness to experience. High scorers, who evidenced strong self-reliance and an unwillingness to be a burden on others, are considered to be at risk when faced with a significant mobility transition. An appreciation for such differences can allow for personalized, tailored discussion and planning for when it is time to “hang up the keys.”
AdlerG.RottundaS. (2006). Older adults’ perspectives on driving cessation. Journal of Aging Studies, 20(3), 227-235.
2.
BambergS. (2007). Is a stage model a useful approach to explain care drivers’ willingness to use public transportation?Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 37, 1757-1783.
3.
Berg-WegerM.RubioD. M.TebbS. (2000) The Caregiver Well-Being Scale–Revisited. Health and Social Work, 25, 255-263.
4.
BryantonO.WeeksL. E.LeesJ. M. (2010). Supporting older women in the transition to driving cessation. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 34(3), 181-195.
5.
ClassenS.WinterS. M.VelozoC. A.BédardM.LanfordD. N.BrumbackB.LutzB. J. (2010). Item development and validity testing for a self-and proxy report: The Safe Driving Behavior Measure. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64, 296-305.
6.
CostaP. TJr.McCraeR. R. (1985). The NEO Personality Inventory. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
7.
DickersonA. E.MolnarL. J.EbyD. W.AdlerG.BédardM.Berg-WegerM.. . . TrujilloL. (2007). Transportation and aging: A research agenda for advancing safe mobility. The Gerontologist, 47, 578-590.
8.
EllsworthP. C.SchererK. R. (2003). Appraisal processes in emotion. In DavidsonR. J.GoldsmithH.SchererK. R. (Eds.), Handbook of affective sciences (pp. 572-595). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
9.
GlasgowN.BlakelyR. M. (2000). Older nonmetropolitan residents’ evaluations of their transportation arrangements. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 19(1), 95-116.
10.
GoldbergL. R.JohnsonJ. A.EberH. W.HoganR.AshtonM. C.CloningerC. R.GoughH. C. (2006). The international personality item pool and the future of public-domain personality measures. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 84-96.
11.
KaiserH. J. (2009). Mobility in old age: Beyond the transportation perspective. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 28, 411-418.
12.
KingM. D.MeuserT. M.Berg-WegerM.ChibnallJ. C.HarmonA.YakimoR. (2011). Decoding the Miss Daisy syndrome: An examination of subjective responses to mobility change. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 54(1), 29-52.
13.
LazarusR. S. (1993). Coping theory and research: Past, present, and future. Psychosomatic Medicine, 55, 234-247.
14.
LazarusR. S.FolkmanS. (1984). Stress, appraisal, & coping. New York, NY: Springer.
15.
LearyM. (2008). Policy intersections or policy chasm—State elder mobility policy, practice and long-term care reform (Doctoral dissertation). George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
16.
LewisI. M.WatsonB.WhiteK. M.TayR. (2007). Promoting public health messages: Should we move beyond fear-evoking appeals in road safety?Qualitative Health Research, 17, 61-74.
17.
MacLeanK.Berg-WegerM.MeuserT. M.CarrD. B. (2007). Driving retirement: Help with counseling older adults. Family Practice Recertification, 29(6), 1-6.
18.
MarottoliR. A.OstfieldA. M.MerrillS. S.PerlmanG. D.CooneyL. M. (1993). Driving cessation and changes in mileage driven among elderly individuals. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 48, 255-260.
19.
MarwitS. J.MeuserT. M. (2002). Development and Initial Validation of an Inventory to Assess Grief in Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease. The Gerontologist, 42(6), 751-765.
20.
MeuserT. M.MarwitS. J. (2001). A comprehensive stage-sensitive model of grief in dementia caregiving. The Gerontologist, 41, 658-700.
21.
RubioD. M.Berg-WegerM.TebbS. (1999). Assessing the validity and reliability of well-being and stress in family caregivers. Social Work Research, 23(1), 54-64.
22.
SheikhJ. I.YesavageJ. A. (1986). Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Recent evidence and development of a shorter version. In Clinical gerontology: A guide to assessment and intervention (pp. 165-173). New York, NY: Haworth.
23.
StalveyB. T.OwsleyC. (2003). The development and efficacy of a theory-based educational curriculum to promote self-regulation among high-risk older drivers. Health Promotion Practice, 4(2), 109-119.
24.
StalveyB. T.OwsleyC.SloaneM. E.BallK. (1999). The Life Space Questionnaire: A measure of the extent of mobility of older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 18, 460-478.
25.
StoweJ. D. (2011). Heightening older adults’ awareness of mobility preparedness using multiple segment factorial vignettes. Unpublished manuscript, University of Missouri–Columbia.
26.
SuenS. L.SenL. (2004). Mobility options for seniors. In Transportation in an aging society: A decade of experience, Conference Proceedings 27 (pp. 97-113). Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
27.
TebbS. S. (1995). An aid to empowerment: A caregiver well-being scale. Health and Social Work, 20(2), 87-92.
28.
TuokkoH. A.McGeeP.GabrielG.RhodesR. E. (2007). Perception, attitudes and beliefs, and openness to change: Implications for older driver education. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 39, 812-817.
