Volume 19, Issue 3 pp. 228-235
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Influence of functional, psychological, and environmental factors on falls among community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong

Daniel D.M. Leung

Corresponding Author

Daniel D.M. Leung

Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Psychological Society, Hong Kong

British Psychological Society, Leicester

Correspondence: Mr Daniel D.M. Leung CPsychol, AFHKPS, M.Soc.Sc. (distinction)(HKU), Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong. Email: [email protected]; [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
First published: 30 October 2018
Citations: 7
Disclosure: The author has no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Abstract

Aim

The growth of the ageing population has been rapid. However, this ageing population is not homogeneous; individuals have different levels of functionality and psychosocial status, and some are members of at-risk or high-risk groups. As such, studies on the functional, psychological, and environmental factors of falls among community-dwelling older adults are imperative. By investigating the effect of life satisfaction, as well as environmental and functional factors, on falls among community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong, this study aims to address this concern.

Methods

The study recruited 249 participants. Both self-reported questionnaires and home safety assessments were administrated.

Results

Logistic regression analysis showed that life satisfaction and instrumental activities of daily living were significant predictors of falls. Significant differences between fallers and non-fallers were found in functional and psychological areas. The presence of home hazards was low and not associated with falls in this population. However, this variable was negatively associated with life satisfaction and predicted by one of its domains, satisfaction of possession.

Conclusion

These results can help health-care and social service providers to identify the needs and types of support required for effective fall prevention and to better tailor and target community intervention for older adults.

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