Self-efficacy as a mediator between fear of falling and functional ability in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined falls self-efficacy and fear of falling to determine whether self-efficacy acts as a mediator between fear of falling and functional ability.


METHODS
Using the Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly as a fear-of-falling measure and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale for falls self-efficacy, structural relationships among fear of falling, self-efficacy, functional balance, and physical functioning outcomes were tested with older adults (N = 256, M age = 77.5).


RESULTS
Lower levels of fear of falling were significantly related to higher levels of falls self-efficacy, which was in turn associated with better functional outcomes. Moreover, falls self-efficacy mediated the effects of fear of falling on functional outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Results substantiate the hypothesized mediational role of falls self-efficacy in fear of falling and underscore the need to consider ways of enhancing falls self-efficacy in interventions aimed at reducing falls and fear of falling.
Fuzhong
Li
L
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR, USA. fuzhongl@ori.org
McAuley
Edward
E
Fisher
K John
KJ
Harmer
Peter
P
Chaumeton
Nigel
N
Wilson
Nicole L
NL
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009922:Oregon; D020377:Self Efficacy