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. 2023 Jul 10;23(1):421.
doi: 10.1186/s12877-023-04144-1.

Fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults

Kuan-Ying Wu #  1 , Duan-Rung Chen #  2   3   4 , Chang-Chuan Chan  5   6 , Yen-Po Yeh  5   7   8 , Hsiu-Hsi Chen  5   8
Affiliations

Fear of falling as a mediator in the association between social frailty and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults

Kuan-Ying Wu et al. BMC Geriatr. .

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.

Keywords: Community-dwelling older adults; Fear of falling; Health-related quality of life; Social frailty.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
DAG shows the medication model of the relationships among social frailty, FoF, and HrQoL
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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