Paweena Sukhawathanakul1, Holly Tuokko2, Ryan E Rhodes3, Shawn C Marshall4, Judith Charlton5, Sjaan Koppel5, Isabelle Gélinas6, Gary Naglie, Barbara Mazer6, Brenda Vrkljan7, Anita Myers8, Malcolm Man-Son-Hing4, Michel Bédard9, Mark Rapoport10, Nicol Korner-Bitensky6, Michelle M Porter11. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. paweenas@uvic.ca. 2. Centre on Aging, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 3. School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 4. Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 5. Monash University Accident Research Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Australia. 6. School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada. Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Réadaptation du Montréal Métropolitain, Québec, Canada. 7. School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 8. School of Public Health & Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. 9. Centre for Research on Safe Driving, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. 10. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 11. Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The Decisional Balance Scale (DBS) was developed to assess older adults' attitudes related to driving and includes both intrapersonal and interpersonal motivations for driving. This study examined the psychometric properties of the DBS ratings across 3 time points in a sample of 928 older drivers who participated in the Canadian Driving Research Initiative for Vehicular Safety in the Elderly (Candrive). DESIGN AND METHODS: Measurement invariance of the DBS was assessed longitudinally and across gender. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a two-factor model (positive and negative attitudes) for both driving beliefs related to the self and other provided a good fit to the data at each time point. Measurement invariance was supported across time and gender. Significant associations between the DBS factor scores and other driving measures (e.g., perceived driving ability and self-regulatory driving practices) provided evidence of convergent validity. IMPLICATIONS: The DBS appears to be a robust instrument for measuring attitudes toward driving and is recommended for continued use in future research on driving behaviors with older adults.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The Decisional Balance Scale (DBS) was developed to assess older adults' attitudes related to driving and includes both intrapersonal and interpersonal motivations for driving. This study examined the psychometric properties of the DBS ratings across 3 time points in a sample of 928 older drivers who participated in the Canadian Driving Research Initiative for Vehicular Safety in the Elderly (Candrive). DESIGN AND METHODS: Measurement invariance of the DBS was assessed longitudinally and across gender. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a two-factor model (positive and negative attitudes) for both driving beliefs related to the self and other provided a good fit to the data at each time point. Measurement invariance was supported across time and gender. Significant associations between the DBS factor scores and other driving measures (e.g., perceived driving ability and self-regulatory driving practices) provided evidence of convergent validity. IMPLICATIONS: The DBS appears to be a robust instrument for measuring attitudes toward driving and is recommended for continued use in future research on driving behaviors with older adults.