Fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults
Abstract Background Social frailty is associated with Fear of Falling (FoF) and health-related quality of life (HrQoL). However, how social frailty simultaneously influences FoF and HrQoL remains unclear. The study aims to understand the links between social frailty, FoF, and HrQoL in older adults a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04144-1 |
| _version_ | 1797778716306178048 |
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| author | Kuan-Ying Wu Duan-Rung Chen Chang-Chuan Chan Yen-Po Yeh Hsiu-Hsi Chen |
| author_facet | Kuan-Ying Wu Duan-Rung Chen Chang-Chuan Chan Yen-Po Yeh Hsiu-Hsi Chen |
| author_sort | Kuan-Ying Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Social frailty is associated with Fear of Falling (FoF) and health-related quality of life (HrQoL). However, how social frailty simultaneously influences FoF and HrQoL remains unclear. The study aims to understand the links between social frailty, FoF, and HrQoL in older adults and the mediating role of FoF in the relations between social frailty and HrQoL. Methods In this cross-sectional survey, 1,933 community-dwelling older adults from Changhua County, Taiwan, were interviewed using a self-administrated questionnaire. In total, 1,251 participants with complete data were included for analysis. Data were analyzed using the SPSS PROCESS macro. A simple mediation was employed using social frailty as the independent variable, FoF as the mediator variable, and HrQoL as the outcome variable. Results Social frailty was associated with HrQoL and indirectly with HrQoL through FoF, and FoF was directly associated with HrQoL. Of the 5-item social frailty index, “going out less frequently” was correlated with HrQoL and indirectly with HrQoL through FoF. Individuals who felt unhelpful toward family or friends had the worst physical HrQoL and did not talk to someone daily had the most negative influence on mental HrQoL. Conclusions Social frailty can directly and indirectly, through FoF decrease HrQoL. It also emphasizes the importance of social connectivity in reducing the risk of falls. This study points to the need for social connectivity and fall prevention programs as essential components of strategies to enhance the health and well-being of community-dwelling older adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:21:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f4ef225d9ef4f3e9221fda7f11ac840 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:21:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f4ef225d9ef4f3e9221fda7f11ac8402023-07-16T11:27:22ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182023-07-0123111010.1186/s12877-023-04144-1Fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adultsKuan-Ying Wu0Duan-Rung Chen1Chang-Chuan Chan2Yen-Po Yeh3Hsiu-Hsi Chen4Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan UniversityInnovation and Policy Center for Population Health and Sustainable Environment, College of Public Health, National Taiwan UniversityInnovation and Policy Center for Population Health and Sustainable Environment, College of Public Health, National Taiwan UniversityInnovation and Policy Center for Population Health and Sustainable Environment, College of Public Health, National Taiwan UniversityInnovation and Policy Center for Population Health and Sustainable Environment, College of Public Health, National Taiwan UniversityAbstract Background Social frailty is associated with Fear of Falling (FoF) and health-related quality of life (HrQoL). However, how social frailty simultaneously influences FoF and HrQoL remains unclear. The study aims to understand the links between social frailty, FoF, and HrQoL in older adults and the mediating role of FoF in the relations between social frailty and HrQoL. Methods In this cross-sectional survey, 1,933 community-dwelling older adults from Changhua County, Taiwan, were interviewed using a self-administrated questionnaire. In total, 1,251 participants with complete data were included for analysis. Data were analyzed using the SPSS PROCESS macro. A simple mediation was employed using social frailty as the independent variable, FoF as the mediator variable, and HrQoL as the outcome variable. Results Social frailty was associated with HrQoL and indirectly with HrQoL through FoF, and FoF was directly associated with HrQoL. Of the 5-item social frailty index, “going out less frequently” was correlated with HrQoL and indirectly with HrQoL through FoF. Individuals who felt unhelpful toward family or friends had the worst physical HrQoL and did not talk to someone daily had the most negative influence on mental HrQoL. Conclusions Social frailty can directly and indirectly, through FoF decrease HrQoL. It also emphasizes the importance of social connectivity in reducing the risk of falls. This study points to the need for social connectivity and fall prevention programs as essential components of strategies to enhance the health and well-being of community-dwelling older adults.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04144-1Social frailtyFear of fallingHealth-related quality of lifeCommunity-dwelling older adults |
| spellingShingle | Kuan-Ying Wu Duan-Rung Chen Chang-Chuan Chan Yen-Po Yeh Hsiu-Hsi Chen Fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults BMC Geriatrics Social frailty Fear of falling Health-related quality of life Community-dwelling older adults |
| title | Fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults |
| title_full | Fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults |
| title_fullStr | Fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults |
| title_short | Fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults |
| title_sort | fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health related quality of life in community dwelling older adults |
| topic | Social frailty Fear of falling Health-related quality of life Community-dwelling older adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04144-1 |
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