Study on a Fear of Falling and Related Factors of Elderly Men Living in a Rural Community

• Published in: Journal of Physical Education and Medicine Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 57 - 61
• Main Authors: KAMIOKA, Hiroharu, NAKANISHI, Kazuhito, OKADA, Shinpei, MUTOH, Yoshiteru, KOMATSU, Taiki, KAMINAI, Tetsuo, OKUIZUMI, Hiroyasu, SOYANO, Ayako
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Journal of Physical Education and Medicine Editorial Committee 2005
• Subjects: elderly men; fear of falling; mobility
• DOI: 10.11335/jpem.6.57
• ISSN: 1345-6962; 1883-0722

This study was attempted to clarify a fear of falling and its related factors among elderly men living in a rural community of Japan. Tests on mobility and questionnaires were conducted on community-dwelling elderly over 65 years of age living in Kitamimaki-Village (Tomi-City), Nagano, Japan, during May-July, 2000. Valid sample was 214 of 572 total target population; rate of participation was 37.4%. The four test items of mobility were the 10-m walking time, the maximal step length, the 40-cm step test, and tandem walk. Questionnaires comprised the number of falls in the past year, the degree of a fear of falling (Visual Analogue Scale), the degree of subjective happiness (VAS), the Index of Competence, exercise habit, and so on. Average age of the sample was 74.5±6.3y. The degree of a fear was 38.2±31.6% (0-100%). Numbers of fall in the past year was 1.2±0.5 times (0-10). Correlation coefficients with a fear were: r=0.172 (p<0.01) for age, r=0.285(p<0.001) for the 10-m walking time, r=-0.231 (p<0.001) for the maximal step length, r=-0.250 (p<0.001) for the Index of Competence, r=-0.161 (p<0.01) for the degree of subjective happiness, and r=0.186 (p<0.01) for the number of falls. The multiple regression analysis of a fear (criterion variable) showed coefficient of determination at 0.358. The standard partial regression coefficients were respectively, 0.197 (p<0.05) for age, 0.225 (p<0.01) for the 10-m walking time, 0.145 (p<0.05) for an Index of Competence, and 0.150 (p<0.05) for the number of falls. In elderly men, the cause of fall-related fear may be more complex than in women. This study showed that a fear of falling of the elderly men had a significant, but weak correlation with age, mobility, and the degree of activity.