The authors responses from telephone interviews conducted with a community sample of 304 older drivers to investigate associations between perceived control over driving, driving ability perception (an index of unrealistic optimism), and self-reported avoidance of high-risk driving situations. They also investigated associations between perceived control over driving, ability perception, and indices of well-being (life satisfaction and depressive symptoms). The results indicated that perceived control and perceived ability were each associated with reduced risk avoidance and well-being, with these associations moderated by gender. The results are discussed in terms of potentially adaptive and maladaptive consequences of pervasive perceptual biases, gender differences in primary and secondary control strategies, and the importance of effective self-regulation for aging well. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting