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Originalia

Korrelate der Sturzangst im Alter

Published Online:March 06, 2015https://doi.org/10.1026/1612-5010.14.2.74

Abstract

Zusammenfassung. Mit der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurde der Zusammenhang von Sturzangst (Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly: SAFE), funktionalem Gleichgewicht/Mobilität (Timed-Up-and-Go-Test, TUG; Gehgeschwindigkeit) und körperlicher Funktionsfähigkeit (SAFE Aktivitäten, Reduktionen; SF-36) bei älteren Erwachsenen untersucht. Darüber hinaus sollte die Mediatorfunktion sturzassoziierter Selbstwirksamkeit (Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale) in einem Strukturgleichungsmodell an 91 Erwachsenen (17 Männer, 74 Frauen) im Alter von 60 bis 93 Jahren ohne Sturzhistorie geprüft werden. Man findet signifikant negative Pfade von der Subskala SAFE Angst auf die sturzassoziierte Selbstwirksamkeit (β = -0.931; t = -8.117, p.001), d. h. dass ältere Menschen ohne aktuelle Sturzbiographie und nur geringer Sturzangst eine hohe sturzassoziierte Selbstwirksamkeit berichten. Ebenso ist der Effekt von Sturzangst auf die körperliche Funktionsfähigkeit hochsignifikant (β = -0.432, t = -2.686, p = .007). Für die sturzassoziierte Selbstwirksamkeit liegt ein hoher Zusammenhang mit dem funktionalen Gleichgewicht/Mobilität vor (β = 0.482, t = 2.050, p = .040), jedoch nicht mit der körperlichen Funktionsfähigkeit (β = 0.118, t = 0.916, p = .359). Für den Zusammenhang zwischen Sturzangst und funktionalem Gleichgewicht/Mobilität liegt eine vollständige Mediation durch die sturzassoziierte Selbstwirksamkeit vor. Der signifikante Einfluss von funktionalen Messungen und Verhaltensdaten auf die Sturzangst verdeutlicht die Notwendigkeit von Interventionen, die auf die Stärkung der sturzassoziierten Selbstwirksamkeit fokussieren, um so zur Reduktion von Sturzangst beizutragen.


Correlates of fear of falling in older adults

Abstract. The present study investigated relations in older adults between fear of falling (assessed with the Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly, SAFE), functional balance and mobility (Timed-Up-and-Go-Test, TUG; gait speed), and physical functioning (SAFE activities; SAFE activity reductions; SF-36). It also examined whether fall-related self-efficacy (Activities-Specific Balance Confidence [ABC] Scale) acts as a mediator in a structural equation model. Participants were 91 individuals (17 men and 74 women aged 60-93 years) with no current history of falls. Results showed that fear of falling correlated significantly with fall self-efficacy (β = -.0.931; t = -8.117, p < .001), indicating that individuals with low levels of fear reported higher fall-related efficacy. Moreover, fear of falling had a highly significant effect on physical functioning (β = -0.432, t = -2.686, p = .007). Self-efficacy was associated with better functional balance and mobility (β = 0.482, t = 2.050, p = .040), but not with physical functioning (β = 0.118, t = 0.916, p = .359). Fall-related self-efficacy mediated the effects of fear of falling on functional balance and mobility. It is concluded that the significant impact of functional and behavioral characteristics on activity-related fear of falling emphasizes the need for interventions enhancing fall-related self-efficacy to lessen activity-related fear of falling in older adults.

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