Life transitions can be planned or can occur unexpectedly. They can cause a major change to a person’s life patterns and well-being. Older adulthood is a time for many life transitions as a result of changes in life roles and health status. In this exploratory study, the authors investigate the transition involved in driving cessation for older people. In analyzing and organizing the data, they develop a matrix that incorporated descriptive and temporal factors associated with the transition. This matrix is useful in organizing and communicating the findings as a whole and could be used in describing individual experiences. It might be of use for the organization of qualitative data about other life transitions such as illness, retirement, and the development and adoption of new behaviors.
Adams, J. D., Hayes, J.,& Hopson, B. (1976). Transition: Understanding and managing personal change. London: Martin Robertson.
2.
Adler, G., Rottunda, S., Rasmussen, K., & Kuskowski, M. (2000). Caregivers dependent upon drivers with dementia. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 6, 83-90.
3.
Atchley, R. C. (1989). A continuity theory of normal aging. The Gerontologist, 29, 183-190.
4.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau. (2000). Never-licensed motorists(Monograph 1). Canberra, Australia: Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
5.
Austroads. (2001). Assessing fitness to drive(2nd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Austroads.
6.
Averill, J. B. (2002). Matrix analysis as a complementary analytic strategy in qualitative inquiry. Qualitative Health Research, 12, 855-866.
7.
Bahro, M., Silber, E., Box, P., & Sunderland, T. (1995). Giving up driving in Alzheimer’s disease: An integrative therapeutic approach. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 10, 871-874.
8.
Betts Adams, K. (2001). Depressive symptoms, depletion or developmental change? Withdrawal, apathy and lack of vigor in the Geriatric Depression Scale. The Gerontologist, 41, 768-777.
9.
Blair, S. E. E. (2000). The centrality of occupation during life transitions. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 231-237.
10.
Bonnel, W. B. (1999). Giving up the car: Older women’s losses and experiences. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 37, 10-15.
11.
Brown, V. B., Melchior, L. A., Panter, A. T., Slaughter, R., & Huba, G. J. (2000). Women’s steps of change and entry into drug abuse treatment. A multidimensional stages of change model. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 18, 231-240.
12.
Chiriboga, D. A. (2001). Transitions. In G. L. Maddox (Ed.), The encyclopedia of aging(3rd ed., pp. 1028-1030). New York: Springer.
13.
Chiriboga, D. A.,& Pierce, R. C. (1993). Changing context of activity. In J. R. Kelly (Ed.), Activity and aging: Staying involved in later life(pp. 42-59). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
14.
Coffman, T. L. (2001). Relocation/relocation stress. In G. L. Maddox (Ed.), The encyclopedia of aging(3rd ed., pp. 871-873). New York: Springer.
15.
Derisley, J.,& Reynolds, S. (2000). The transtheoretical stages of change as a predictor of premature termination, attendanceandalliance in psychotherapy. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39, 371-382.
16.
DiClemente, C. C. (1999). Motivation for change: Implications for substance abuse treatment. Psychological Science, 10, 209-213.
17.
Elder, G. H. (2001). Life course. In G. L. Maddox (Ed.), The encyclopedia of aging(3rd ed., pp. 593-596). New York: Springer.
18.
Evans, L. (2000). Risks older drivers face themselves and threats they pose to other road users. International Journal of Epidemiology, 29, 315-322.
19.
Fonda, S. J., Wallace, R. B.,& Herzog, A. R. (2001). Changes in driving patterns and worsening depressive symptoms among older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 56, 343-351.
20.
French, E., & Delahaye, B. (1996). Individual change transition: Moving in circles can be good for you. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 17, 22-28.
21.
French, S. L., Gekoski, W.,& Knox, V. J. (1995). Gender differences in relating life events and well-being in elderly individuals. Social Indicators Research, 35, 1-25.
22.
Froelicher, E. S.,& Kozuki, Y. (2002). Theoretical applications of smoking cessation interventions to individuals with medical conditions: Women’s initiative for nonsmoking (WINS)—Part III. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 39, 1-15.
23.
Fry, P. S. (2001). Predictors of health-related quality of life perspectives, self esteem, and life satisfactions of older adults following spousal loss: An18-month follow-up study of widows and widowers. The Gerontologist, 41, 787-798.
24.
Gama, E. V., Damian, J., Molino, J. P., Lopez, M. R., Perez, M. L.,& Iglesias, F. J. (2000). Association of individual activities of daily living with self-rated health in older people. Age and Ageing, 29, 267-270.
25.
Geis, J. A.,& Klein, H. A. (1990). The relationship of life satisfaction to life change among the elderly. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 151, 269-271.
26.
George, L. K. (2001). Life events. In G. L. Maddox (Ed.), The encyclopedia of aging(3rd ed., pp. 596-598). New York: Springer.
27.
Glass, T. A., Kasl, S. V.,& Berkman, L. F. (1997). Stressful life events and depressive symptoms among the elderly: Evidence from a prospective community study. Journal of Aging and Health, 9, 70-89.
28.
Glickman, L., Hubbard, M., Liveright, T.,& Valciukas, J. A. (1990). Fall-off in reporting life events: Effects of life change, desirability and anticipation. Behavioural Medicine, 16, 31-38.
29.
Haslam, R. A. (2002). Targeting ergonomics interventions—Learning from health promotion. Applied Ergonomics, 33, 241-249.
30.
Havighurst, R. J. (2001). Developmental tasks. In G. L. Maddox (Ed.), The encyclopedia of aging(3rd ed., pp. 291-293). New York: Springer.
31.
Holmes, T. H.,& Rahe, R. H. (1967). The social readjustment rating scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 11, 213-218.
32.
Jarrett, L. (2000). Living with chronic illness: Atransitional model of coping. British Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 17, 40-44.
33.
Johnson, J. E. (1999). Urban older adults and the forfeiture of a driver’s licence. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 25, 12-18.
34.
Jonsson, H., Borell, L., & Sadlo, G. (2000). Retirement: An occupational transition with consequences for temporality, balance andmeaning of occupations. Journal of Occupational Science: Australia, 7, 29-37.
35.
Keefe, F. J., Lefebvre, J. C., Kerns, R. D., Rosenberg, R., Beaupre, P., Prochaska, J., et al. (2000). Understanding the adoption of arthritis self-management stages of change profiles among arthritis patients. Pain, 87, 303-313.
36.
Koenig, C. S., & Cunningham, W. R. (2001). Adulthood relocation: Implications for personality, future orientation, and social partner choices. Experimental Aging Research, 27, 197-213.
37.
Kostyniuk, L. P., Shope, J. T., & Molnar, L. J. (2000, July). Driving reduction/cessation among older drivers: Toward a behavioral framework. Paper presented at the Ninth International Association for Travel Behaviour Conference, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
38.
Kramer, B. J.,& Lambert, J. D. (1999). Caregiving as a life course transition among older husbands: Aprospective study. The Gerontologist, 39, 658-667.
39.
Laforge, R. G., Rossi, J. S., Prochaska, J. O., Velicer, W. F., Levesque, D. A.,& McHorney, C. A. (1999). Stage of regular exercise and health-related quality of life. Preventive Medicine, 28, 349-360.
40.
Laforge, R. G., Velicer, W. F., Richmond, R. L., & Owen, N. (1999). Stage distributions for five health behaviours in the United States and Australia. Preventive Medicine, 28, 61-74.
41.
Leonard, R., & Burns, A. (1999). Turning points in the lives of midlife and older women. Australian Psychologist, 34, 87-93.
42.
Liddle, J., Carlson, G.,& McKenna, K. (2003). Driving cessation for older people, part I: The experience. Unpublished manuscript.
43.
Liddle, J.,& McKenna, K. (2003). Older drivers and driving cessation. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66(3), 125-132.
44.
Lister, R. (1999). Loss of ability to drive following a stroke: The early experiences of three elderly people on discharge from hospital. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 514-520.
45.
Littell, J. H., & Girvin, H. (2002). Stages of change: A critique. Behavior Modification, 26, 223-273.
46.
Lloyd, S., Cormack, C. N., Blais, K., Messeri, G., McCallum, M. A., Spicer, K., et al. (2001). Driving and dementia: A review of the literature. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68, 149-155.
47.
Lutgendorf, S. K., Reimer, T. T., Harvey, J. H., Marks, G., Hong, S. Y., Hillis, S. L., et al. (2001). Effects of housing relocation on immunocompetence and psychosocial functioning in older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 56, 97-105.
48.
Ma, J., Betts, N. M., Horacek, T., Georgiou, C.,& White, A. (2003). Assessing stages of change for fruit and vegetable intake in young adults: A combination of traditional staging algorithms and foodfrequency questionnaires. Health Education Research, 18, 224-236.
49.
Marsh, G. W. (1990). Refining an emergent life-style-change theory through matrix analysis. Advances in Nursing Science, 12, 41-52.
50.
Miilunpalo, S., Nupponen, R., Laitakari, J., Marttila, J., & Paronen, O. (2000). Stages of change in two modes of health-enhancing physical activity: Methodological aspects and promotional implications. Health Education Research, 15, 435-448.
51.
Miles, M. B.,& Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook(2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
52.
Moen, P., Dempster-McClain, D.,& Erickson, M. A. (2000). Role transitions, Project 2015: The future of aging in New York State(pp. 129-133). New York: New York State Office for the Aging.
53.
Murrell, S. A., & Norris, F. H. (1991). Differential social support and life changes as contributors to the social class-distress relationship in older adults. Psychology and Aging, 6, 223-231.
54.
Norman, G. J., Velicer, W. F., Fava, J. L., & Prochaska, J. (1998). Dynamic typology clustering within the stages of change for smoking cessation. Addictive Behaviors, 23, 139-153.
55.
Norman, G. J., Velicer, W. F., Fava, J. L.,& Prochaska, J. (2000). Cluster subtypes within stage of change in a representative sample of smokers. Addictive Behaviors, 25, 183-204.
56.
Norman, S. M., McCluskey-Fawcett, K., & Ashcraft, L. (2002). Older women’s development: Acomparison of women in their 60s and 80s on a measure of Erikson’s developmental tasks. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 54, 31-41.
57.
Omoto, A. M., Snyder, M., & Martino, S. C. (2000). Volunteerism and the life course: Investigating agerelated agendas for action. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 22, 181-197.
58.
Pachana, N.,& Long, N. (2000). AnotherY2K problem: New Zealand’s ageing drivers. New Zealand Medical Journal, 113, 43-45.
59.
Parkes, C. M. (1971). Psychosocial transitions: A field for study. Social Science & Medicine, 5, 101-115.
60.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods(3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
61.
Plotnikoff, R. C., Hotz, S. B., Birkett, N. J., & Courneya, K. S. (2001). Exercise and the transtheoretical model: A longitudinal test of a population sample. Preventive Medicine, 33, 441-452.
62.
Plummer, B. A., Velicer, W. F., Redding, C. A., Prochaska, J., Rossi, J. S., Pallonen, U. E., et al. (2001). Stage of change, decisional balance, and temptations for smoking. Measurement and validation in a large, school-based population of adolescents. Addictive Behaviors, 26, 551-571.
63.
Povey, R., Conner, M., Sparks, P., James, R., & Shepherd, R. (1999). Acritical examination of the application of the Transtheoretical Model’s stages of change to dietary behaviours. Health Education Research, 14, 641-651.
64.
Prigerson, H. G., Reynolds, C. F., Frank, E., Kupfer, D. J., George, C. J.,& Houck, P. R. (1994). Stressful life events, social rhythms, and depressive symptoms among the elderly: An examination of hypothesized causal linkages. Psychiatry Research, 51, 33-49.
65.
Prochaska, J., & DiClemente, C. C. (1992). Stages of change in the modification of problem behaviours. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
66.
Ralston, L. S., Bell, S. L., Mote, J. K., Rainey, T. B., Brayman, S., & Shotwell, M. (2001). Giving up the car keys: Perceptions of well elders and families. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 19(4), 59-70.
67.
Rebeiro, K. L., & Allen, J. (1998). Voluntarism as occupation. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 279-285.
68.
Reuben, D. B., Silliman, R. A., & Traines, M. (1988). The aging driver—Medicine, policy and ethics. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 36, 1135-1142.
69.
Rogers, E. S., Martin, R., Anthony, W., Massaro, J., Danley, K., Crean, T., et al. (2001). Assessing readiness for changeamongpersons with severe mental illness. Community Mental Health Journal, 37, 97-112.
70.
Ronka, A., Oravala, S., & Pulkkinen, L. (2003). Turning points in adults’ lives: The effects of gender and the amount of choice. Journal of Adult Development, 10, 203-215.
71.
Rosenkoetter, M. M., Garris, J. M., & Engdahl, R. A. (2001). Postretirement use of time: Implications for preretirement planning andpostretirement management. Activities, Adaptation and Aging, 25, 1-18.
72.
Sarkin, J. A., Johnson, S. S., Prochaska, J. O., & Prochaska, J. M. (2001). Applying the transtheoretical model to regular moderate exercise in an overweight population: Validation of a stages of change measure. Preventive Medicine, 33, 462-469.
73.
Sterns, H. L., Sterns, R., Aizenberg, R., & Anapolle, J. (2001). Family and friends concerned about an older driver(DOT HS 809 307). Washington DC: Office of Research and Traffic Records, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
74.
Stressel, D. L. (2000). Driving issues of the older adult. OT Practice, 5, 1-8.
75.
Theorell, T. (1992). Critical life changes: A review of research. Psychotherapy psychosomatics, 57, 108-117.
76.
Ward, M. C.,& Higgs, P. (1998). Psychosocial aspects of adjusting to disability in older people. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 8, 251-256.
77.
Whitelaw, S., Baldwin, S., Bunton, R.,& Flynn, D. (2000). The status of evidence and outcomes in Stages of Change research. Health Education Research, 15, 707-718.
78.
Williams, D. (1999). Human responses to change. Futures, 31, 609-616.
79.
Wilmoth, J. M. (2000). Unbalanced social exchanges and living arrangement transitions among older adults. The Gerontologist, 40, 64-74.
80.
Wiseman, E. J., & Souder, E. (1996). The older driver: A handy tool to assess competence behind the wheel. Geriatrics, 51, 36-45.
81.
Yassuda, M. S., Wilson, J. J.,& von Mering, O. (1997). Driving cessation: The perspective of senior drivers. Educational Gerontology, 23, 525-538.
