Betz, Marian E.Fowler, Nicole R.Han, S. DukeHill, Linda L.Johnson, Rachel L.Meador, LaurenOmeragic, FarisPeterson, Ryan A.DiGuiseppi, Carolyn2023-08-102023-08-102022Betz ME, Fowler NR, Han SD, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adult Driving in the United States. J Appl Gerontol. 2022;41(8):1821-1830. doi:10.1177/07334648221091556https://hdl.handle.net/1805/34832Objectives: To examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected driving and health outcomes in older adults. Methods: We compared Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options (AUTO) study participants enrolled before (December 2019 to March 2020) versus during the pandemic (May 2020 to June 2021). Participants were English-speaking, licensed drivers (≥70 years) who drove weekly and had a primary care provider at a study site and ≥1 medical condition potentially associated with driving cessation. We used baseline self-reported measures on mobility and health. Results: Compared to those enrolled pre-COVID-19 (n = 61), more participants enrolled during COVID-19 (n = 240) reported driving reductions (26% vs. 70%, p < .001) and more often for personal preference (vs. medical/emotional reasons). While mean social isolation was higher during than pre-COVID-19, self-reported depression, stress, and overall health PROMIS scores did not differ significantly. Discussion: Our findings highlight the resiliency of some older adults and have implications for mitigating the negative effects of driving cessation.en-USPublisher PolicyDrivingCOVID-19Well-BeingArticle