%0 Journal Article
%T Fear of falling and falls self-efficacy and their relationship to higher-level competence among community-dwelling senior men and women in Japan
%J Geriatrics and gerontology international
%D 2011
%A Katsumata, Yuriko
%A Arai, Asuna
%A Tomimori, Masashi
%A Ishida, Kozo
%A Lee, Romeo B.
%A Tamashiro, Howard
%V 11
%N 3
%P 282-289
%X Aim:  This cross-sectional study examined the relationships of fear of falling and falls self-efficacy with higher-level competence among community-dwelling senior citizens in Japan. Methods:  Of the 822 registered senior citizens, 731 (89%) community dwellers were requested to participate in the survey using a mailed self-accomplished questionnaire. Data from 648 respondents with duly accomplished questionnaires were analyzed using R(2) , the coefficient of determination, based on a multivariate regression analysis. Results:  Fear of falling, low falls self-efficacy and higher-level functional disability were observed among respondents. Of the hypothesized relationships examined by sex, fear of falling was significantly associated with disability among male respondents and low falls self-efficacy among both sexes. Several confounding variables were strongly associated with competence. Conclusion:  While the data underscore the strategic importance of promoting higher-level competence among the senior citizens, there is much to suggest that their competence is likely to be maintained if their fear of falling and falls self-efficacy were modified. Programs must also consider a wide array of intervening factors.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I John Wiley and Sons
%@ 1444-1586
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0594.2010.00679.x