Association Between Physical Performance and Sense of Autonomy in Outdoor Activities and Life‐Space Mobility in Community‐Dwelling Older People. Issue 4 (21st March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Portegijs, Erja; Rantakokko, Merja; Mikkola, Tuija M.; Viljanen, Anne; Rantanen, Taina
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Volume 62:Issue 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 615
• Page End: 621
• Publication Date: 2014-03-21
• Subjects: Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/jgs.12763
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8614

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jgs12763-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jgs12763-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To study the relationship between physical performance and sense of autonomy in outdoor activities with life‐space mobility—the spatial area a person purposefully moves through in daily life—in community‐dwelling older people.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12763-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Cross‐sectional analyses of baseline data of the Life‐Space Mobility in Old Age cohort study.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12763-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>Structured interviews in participants' homes.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12763-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Participants</title> <p>Community‐dwelling people aged 75 to 90 (N = 848).</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12763-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Measurements</title> <p>Sense of autonomy outdoors (Impact on Participation and Autonomy questionnaire subscale), life‐space mobility (Life‐Space Assessment; University of Alabama, Birmingham Study of Aging), and Short Physical Performance Battery.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12763-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The median score for life‐space mobility was 64.0. In linear regression models, poorer physical performance and more‐limited sense of autonomy were independently associated with more restrictions in life‐space mobility, explaining approximately one‐third of the variation in life‐space mobility. Physical performance also had an indirect effect on life‐space mobility through sense of autonomy outdoors. Subgroup analyses of 5‐year age groups and sex revealed that the associations were somewhat stronger in women and the oldest age group.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12763-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Physical performance and sense of autonomy in outdoor activities explained a substantial portion of the variation in life‐space mobility in healthy older people, indicating that physical and psychosocial factors play a role in maintaining mobility in old age.</p> </sec> </abstract>