Predictors of mobility limitation in older adults: A structural equation modeling analysis

Abstract

Background: In this study, the factors related to the functional limitation were studied simultaneously using structural equation modeling. Material and methods: 1 201 people aged 50 years and older were selected for this study using a stratified random sampling method from health centers of Bukan city in the northwest of Iran, in 2017. Trained interviewers collected information on demographic characteristics, socio-economic status, physical activity, history of falling/fear of falling, visual and hearing condition, associated illnesses, social support, cognition, depression, assessed functional limitation and mobility of study participants. The structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Results: The participants’ mean age was 59.2 ±7.97 yrs, of whom 61% were women. The result showed that the proposed conceptual model fitted well CFI (0.97), RMSEA (0.04), SRMR (0.06). Age (β =-0.45, p < 0.001), gender (β =-4.55, p = 0.004), and economic status (β =-3.57, p < 0.001), physical activity (β =-10.35, p = 0.025) and socio-psychological activity (β =-1.59, p < 0.001) negatively, and the variables of educational level (β = 2.34, p = 0.016), marital status (β = 5.43, p = 0.003), cognitive function (β = 0.66, p = 0.001), living environment (ground floor*: β = 16.62, p < 0.001), duplex: (β = 5.19, p = 0.055), positively predicted the mobility limitation. Conclusions: In this study, a range of socio-demographic factors, cognitive function, and living environment were identified as significant predictors of mobility limitation.