Relationship between fall-related efficacy and activity engagement in community-dwelling older adults: A meta-analytic review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Fear of falling can lead to restricted activity, but little is known about how this fear affects different aspects of people's lives. This study examined the relationship between fall-related efficacy (i.e., confidence or belief in one's ability to perform activities without losing balance or falling) and activity and participation. METHOD: We conducted a meta-analysis of studies comparing community-dwelling older adults' fallrelated efficacy to measures of activity or participation. RESULTS: An examination of 20 cross-sectional and prospective studies found a strong positive relationship between fall-related efficacy and activity (r =.53; 95% CI [.47,.58]). An insufficient number of studies examining fall-related efficacy and participation were available for analysis. CONCLUSION: Low fall-related efficacy may be an important barrier to occupational engagement for many older adults and warrants careful consideration by occupational therapists. Future research should explore interventions that target fall-related efficacy and examine their effects on activity performance and engagement.