Fear of falling and falls self-efficacy and their relationship to higher-level competence among community-dwelling senior men and women in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
This cross-sectional study examined the relationships of fear of falling and falls self-efficacy with higher-level competence among community-dwelling senior citizens in Japan.


METHODS
Of the 822 registered senior citizens, 731 (89%) community dwellers were requested to participate in the survey using a mailed self-accomplished questionnaire. Data from 648 respondents with duly accomplished questionnaires were analyzed using R(2) , the coefficient of determination, based on a multivariate regression analysis.


RESULTS
Fear of falling, low falls self-efficacy and higher-level functional disability were observed among respondents. Of the hypothesized relationships examined by sex, fear of falling was significantly associated with disability among male respondents and low falls self-efficacy among both sexes. Several confounding variables were strongly associated with competence.


CONCLUSIONS
While the data underscore the strategic importance of promoting higher-level competence among the senior citizens, there is much to suggest that their competence is likely to be maintained if their fear of falling and falls self-efficacy were modified. Programs must also consider a wide array of intervening factors.
Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan.
Yuriko
Y
Katsumata
Asuna
A
Arai
Masashi
M
Tomimori
Kozo
K
Ishida
Romeo B
RB
Lee
Hiko
H
Tamashiro
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires