title: The impact of osteoporosis, falls, fear of falling, and efficacy expectations on exercise among community-dwelling older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to test a model delineating the factors known to influence fear of falling and exercise behavior among older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a secondary data analysis using baseline data from the Bone Health study. A total of 866 individuals from two online communities participated in the study: 161 (18.6%) were from SeniorNet and 683 (78.9%) were from MyHealtheVet. More than half (63%) of the participants were male with a mean age of 62.8 (SD = 8.5) years. The majority was White (89%) and married (53%) and had some college education (87%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge about osteoporosis and awareness one has a diagnosis of osteoporosis directly influenced fear of falling, and knowledge of osteoporosis directly and indirectly influenced exercise behavior. A diagnosis of osteoporosis indirectly influenced exercise behavior. Taken together, the hypothesized model explained 13% of the variance in exercise behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improving knowledge of osteoporosis and awareness of having a diagnosis of osteoporosis, decreasing fear of falling, and strengthening self-efficacy and outcome expectations for exercise may help improve exercise behavior among older adults.
authors.affiliation: Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore. Eun Shim Nahm, PhD, FAAN, Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore. Shijun Zhu, PhD, Biostatistician, University of Maryland School of Nursing. Clayton Brown, PhD, Biostatistician, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore. Minjeong An, MS, Doctoral Student, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore. Bukyung Park, MS, Doctoral Student, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore. Jeannie Brown, MS, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Resnick
authors.forename: Eun Shim
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Nahm
authors.forename: Shijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Minjeong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Bukyung
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jeannie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*