Associations between driving status, frequency of transport use after driving cessation, and social frailty among middle-aged and older people aged 60 years and older

Background: The use of transport other than cars is a modifiable factor in the association between driving cessation and social frailty.Clarifying this relationship may serve as a new preventive measure against social frailty among current non-drivers.This study examined the potential association of driving status and transport use with social frailty, as well as between the frequency of transport use and social frailty, among current non-drivers.Methods: This study included 977 middle-aged and older adults (average age 65.3 ± 4.8 years).The participants were classified as transport users (more than a few times a week) and transport non-users (less than a few times a month).Based on driving status and transport use, the groups were further classified into current driver, current non-driver/transport user, and current non-driver/transport nonuser groups.We performed statistical analyses to examine the relationships between driving status, transport use, and social frailty. Results:The current non-driver/transport non-user group showed a significant association with a higher social frailty.The current non-driver/transport user group showed no association with social frailty compared with the current driver group.The current non-driver/transport non-user group showed a significant association with a higher social frailty rate (OR 2.14, 95%CI 1.25-3.73).Conclusions: Participants who did not drive or take transport showed significant associations with increased social frailty.Compared with current driver/transport use, current non-driver/transport nonuse was associated with social frailty.