THE EFFECT OF GENDER AND LIVING PLACE ON THE NUMBER OF FALLS, THE RISK OF FALLING, THE FEAR OF FALLING AND BALANCE OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE

Year 2018, Volume: 16 Issue: 4, 82 - 95, 26.12.2018

Özcan Saygın , Halil İbrahim Ceylan , Gönül Babayiğit İrez

https://doi.org/10.33689/spormetre.466278

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of gender and living place on the number of falls, the risk of falling, the fear of falling, and balance of older people. A total of 148 volunter elderly individuals (59 women and 89 men living in a nursing home and home) participated in this study. According to the 2X2 ANOVA analysis results; gender showed a statistically significant effect on the number of falls (df = (1, 140), F = 5,777, p= .018), fear of falling (df= (1, 140), F=4,609, p=.034), risk of falling (df= (1, 140), F=5,999, p=.016), functional reach test scores (df= (1, 140), F=10,866, p=.001). Older women were more likely to fall than older men, had a higher risk of falling, fear of falling, and a poorer balance. Living place was showed statistically significant effect on fear of falling (df= (1, 140), F=36,854, p=.000), risk of falling (1, 140), F=5,750, p=.018). While elderly people living in the house had more fear of falling than the elderly living in the nursing home, the older people living in the nursing home had a higher risk of falling than those living at home. Gender*living place interaction had a significant effect on fear of falling (df= (1,140), F=12,056, p=.001). It was observed that both older men and women living at home had more fear of falling than older men and women living at nursing homes. According to Independent Sample t test; Functional reach test scores (balance skills) were found to be higher in the elderly who had a low fall risk. In conlusion; to prevent falls and to take precautions, the risk of falls, fear of falling and balance skills of the elderly should be monitored on a regular basis. 

Keywords

Aging, Fall-Risk, Fear of Falling, Balance, Gender, Living Place

THE EFFECT OF GENDER AND LIVING PLACE ON THE NUMBER OF FALLS, THE RISK OF FALLING, THE FEAR OF FALLING AND BALANCE OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE

Abstract

This study
was carried out to investigate the effect of gender and living place on the
number of falls, the risk of falling, the fear of falling, and balance of older
people. A total of 148 volunter elderly individuals (59 women and 89 men living
in a nursing home and home) participated in this study. According to the 2X2
ANOVA analysis results; gender showed a statistically significant effect on the
number of falls (df = (1, 140), F = 5,777, p = .018), fear of falling (df= (1,
140), F=4,609, p=.034), risk of falling (df= (1, 140), F=5,999, p=.016),
functional reach test scores (df= (1, 140), F=10,866, p=.001). Older women were
more likely to fall than older men, had a higher risk of falling, fear of
falling, and a poorer balance. Living place was showed statistically
significant effect on fear of falling (df= (1, 140), F=36,854, p=.000), risk of
falling (1, 140), F=5,750, p=.018). While elderly people living in the house
had more fear of falling than the elderly living in the nursing home, the older
people living in the nursing home had a higher risk of falling than those
living at home. Gender*living place interaction had a significant effect on
fear of falling (df= (1,140), F=12,056, p=.001). It was observed that both
older men and women living at home had more fear of falling than older men and
women living at nursing homes. According to Independent Sample t test;
Functional reach test scores (balance skills) were found to be higher in the
elderly who had a low fall risk. In conlusion; to prevent falls and to take
precautions, the risk of falls, fear of falling and balance skills of the
elderly should be monitored on a regular basis.

Keywords

Aging, Fall-Risk, Fear of Falling, Balance, Gender

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