Factorial structure of recklessness: to what extent are older drivers different?
OBJECTIVE
This study tests whether the original factorial structure of a recklessness questionnaire can be maintained for the current Spanish population of older drivers.


BACKGROUND
Our recent interest in dedicating special attention to senior citizen mobility (Monterde, 2001), is due to the impending increase of the aging population in Western countries; this has led us to reinitiate the psychometric study of the construct validity, revising and including older drivers in the psychometric aspects of those evaluation instruments that will then be used in the Spanish psycho-medical check of drivers and in research.


METHODS
Factorial analysis was used to determine validity.


RESULTS
There was an appearance of a different psychological pattern in elderly drivers, specifically, a psychological anxiety trait related to the task of driving. Furthermore, interesting data were found about the attitude of this sector toward the "traffic society" and toward some of the measures included in Spanish legislation that affect especially older drivers (such as the psycho-medical check). IMPACT ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND PRACTICE: These results suggest the possible existence of some kind of "compensation phenomenon," which could have influence over the scores obtained and their interpretation. Consequently, the evaluation instruments should be tested and, if necessary, adapted or specifically created for use with this age group.
Psychonomy Research Unit, Department of Methodology in the Behavioral Sciences, Facultad de Psicología-UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIA, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, E-46010-VALENCIA, Spain. hector.monterde@uv.es
Hector
H
Monterde i Bort
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012449:Safety; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires