The Relationship Between Fall Efficacy and Activity Level in Older Adults

ABSTRACT

Aim: This paper aims to determine the relationship between the confidence in ability to perform activities without falling and the level of activity participation of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Community-dwelling older adults from Korea were recruited for the study. All 61 participants were examined using the falls efficacy scale and Korean Activity Card Sort. Pearson's correlation analysis was run to examine the associations between fall-related efficacy and activity level. Results: Fall efficacy and level of instrumental activities, leisure activities, social activities, and total activity level exhibited a moderate relationship (r = .411**, .395**, .418**, .437**, p < .01). Conclusions: Individuals with low fall efficacy were excessively careful about activity performance—a tendency that may induce activity avoidance or reduction. Such avoidance and reduction to activities, in turn, enable older adults not to maintain quality of life, such as instrumental activities, leisure activities, and social activities.

KEYWORDS. :

• Older adults
• fall efficacy
• activity level
• instrumental activities
• leisure activities
• social activities