title: Relationship between fall-related efficacy and activity engagement in community-dwelling older adults: a meta-analytic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fear of falling can lead to restricted activity, but little is known about how this fear affects different aspects of people's lives. This study examined the relationship between fall-related efficacy (i.e., confidence or belief in one's ability to perform activities without losing balance or falling) and activity and participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a meta-analysis of studies comparing community-dwelling older adults' fall-related efficacy to measures of activity or participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An examination of 20 cross-sectional and prospective studies found a strong positive relationship between fall-related efficacy and activity (r = .53; 95% CI [.47, .58]). An insufficient number of studies examining fall-related efficacy and participation were available for analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low fall-related efficacy may be an important barrier to occupational engagement for many older adults and warrants careful consideration by occupational therapists. Future research should explore interventions that target fall-related efficacy and examine their effects on activity performance and engagement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan, 300 North Ingalls Street, 9th Floor, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2007, USA.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schepens
authors.forename: Ananda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Painter
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D020377:Self Efficacy