title: Fear of falling and its predictors among community-living older adults in Korea.
abstract: To explore the prevalence and predicting factors of fear of falling (FOF) among community-living older adults in Korea.
  
  
  
  Secondary data analysis of the 2011 Korean National Elderly Living Conditions and Welfare Desire Survey was used. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the predictors of FOF.
  
  
  
  In total, 75.6% of older adults with normal cognition have FOF. Factors associated with an increased risk of FOF in older adults are previous experience with falling (OR = 3.734, 95% CI = 2.996-4.655), limitations in the performance of exercise involving lower extremities (OR = 2.428, 95% CI = 2.063-2.858), being female (OR = 2.335, 95% CI = 2.023-2.694), having more than three chronic diseases (OR = 1.994, 95% CI = 1.625-2.446), limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) (OR = 1.745, 95% CI = 1.230-2.477), limitations in the performance of exercise involving upper extremities (OR = 1.646, 95% CI = 1.357-1.997), living without a spouse (OR = 1.626, 95% CI = 1.357-1.948), having poor self-rated health (OR = 1.571, 95% CI = 1.356-1.821), limitations in muscle strength (OR = 1.455, 95% CI = 1.150-1.841), age (≥75 years) (OR = 1.320, 95% CI = 1.150-1.516), lower levels of education (0-6 years) (OR = 1.231, 95% CI = 1.075-1.409), and life satisfaction (OR = 1.104, 95% CI = 1.065-1.114).
  
  
  
  A multidimensional construct of general characteristics, physical, and psychosocial variables act as risk factors for FOF. Preventive intervention should be developed to decrease the FOF among Korean older adults.
authors.affiliation: a College of Nursing , Hanyang University , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Eunmi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: a College of Nursing , Hanyang University , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Gwi-Ryung Son
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: b Department of Nursing , Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology , Jinju , Korea.
authors.forename: Seonhye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: c School of Nursing , Columbia University , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Soojeong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Korea; fear of falling; older adults; predictors