Informal social support networks and the maintenance of voluntary driving cessation by older rural women

Seventy-five rural women over the age of 77 participated in this study to describe the impact of informal social support on the maintenance of voluntary driving cessation. After being screened for mental status, they completed a demographic questionnaire and the Lubben Social Network Scale (2006). They also participated in a semistructured interview designed to probe factors leading to driving cessation and the ability to maintain it. Findings suggest that most participants stopped driving due to a decline in physical function and/or involvement in a nonfatal accident. Adequate support from family and friends was critical to the maintenance of driving cessation. Those with a limited informal social network resumed driving due to the lack of transportation, feelings of insecurity and fear for their survival, and the desire to assist friends who were less fortunate. Implications for community health nurses working in rural areas are discussed.