The influence of metacognitive beliefs and awareness on driving anxiety and attention in older adults

Driving is a cognitively demanding task that may become more challenging with age-related changes in physical and cognitive functioning. These changes may lead to greater experiences of anxiety in some older adults, which could subsequently impact attention whilst driving. This study investigated the complex relationships between subjective cognitive decline, metacognition, driving anxiety, and self-reported attention in older drivers. A sample of 330 Australian drivers aged 60 years and over who self-reported recent driving-related decline completed an online survey. Correlational analyses revealed significant associations between metacognitive awareness, metacognitive beliefs, driving anxiety, and driving attention, while subjective cognitive decline exhibited small inconsistent relationships at the bivariate level. Structural equation modelling supported theoretical propositions and indicated that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and metacognitive awareness indirectly influenced attention regulation whilst driving, via the effects they had on driving anxiety. Subjective cognitive decline also indirectly affected attention regulation through the influence it had on increased dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and reduced metacognitive awareness. Comparisons across demographic groups showed that older males reported higher metacognitive awareness and attention regulation compared to females, despite also reporting a greater perceived need to control thoughts. The findings suggest that metacognitive processes may play a role in the development and maintenance of driving anxiety and attentional control among older drivers.