Personality traits and coping with fear of falling: An interpretive description study of older adults in Canada

Abstract

Fear of falling (FOF) can disrupt older adults' mobility, autonomy, and emotional well-being. While psychological correlates are increasingly recognized, little is known about how personality traits shape coping responses to FOF as lived experience. This study used interpretive description informed by the transactional model of stress and coping to explore personality-linked coping orientations. Fifteen community-dwelling older Canadians (aged 65-84) completed in-depth interviews and a brief personality inventory. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed three coping orientations: cautious behavior as a meaning-making strategy, self-reliance and threats to autonomy, and adaptive engagement with support systems. Traits like conscientiousness and emotional stability influenced appraisals of control, while low extraversion tended to involve selective, trust-based support-seeking. Findings suggest that coping with FOF is not merely behavioral but reflects the dynamic interplay of personality, appraisal, and identity. These insights support the development of tailored, psychologically informed FOF interventions.

Keywords: coping; fear of falling; older person; personality traits; qualitative methods; social support.