Biopsychosocial Predictors of Fall Events Among Older African Americans. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nicklett, Emily Joy; Taylor, Robert Joseph; Rostant, Ola; Johnson, Kimson E.; Evans, Linnea
• Other Names: Thorpe Roland J. guest-editor.; Whitfield Keith E. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Research on aging. Volume 39:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 501
• Page End: 525
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: fall risk -- falls -- African American -- biopsychosocial -- risk and protective factors; Old age -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- United States -- Periodicals; 305.2605
• DOI: 10.1177/0164027516651974
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0164-0275

Abstract

This study identifies risk and protective factors for falls among older, community-dwelling African Americans. Drawing upon the biopsychosocial perspective, we conducted a series of sex- and age-adjusted multinomial logistic regression analyses to identify the correlates of fall events among older African Americans. Our sample consisted of 1, 442 community-dwelling African Americans aged 65 and older, participating in the 2010–2012 rounds of the Health and Retirement Study. Biophysical characteristics associated with greater relative risk of experiencing single and/or multiple falls included greater functional limitations, poorer self-rated health, poorer self-rated vision, chronic illnesses (high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, lung disease, heart problems, stroke, and arthritis), greater chronic illness comorbidity, older age, and female sex. Physical activity was negatively associated with recurrent falls. Among the examined psychosocial characteristics, greater depressive symptoms were associated with greater relative risk of experiencing single and multiple fall events. Implications for clinicians and future studies are discussed.