SELF-EFFICACY AND BALANCE CORRELATES OF FEAR OF FALLING IN THE ELDERLY

This study examined relationships among physical activity patterns, se lf-efficacy, balance, and fear of falling in older adults. Fifty-eight older adults (52-85 years) completed measures of physical activity, s elf-efficacy, and fear of falling. Subjects then performed the items f ound in the Berg Balance Scale (Berg, Wood-Dauphinee, Williams, & Maki , 1992). More physically active adults were less fearful of falling, h ad better balance, and had stronger perceptions of efficacy. Those wit h better balance were less fearful of falling, and females were more f earful than males. Balance and self-efficacy had significant independe nt effects on fear, whereas the contribution of history of physical ac tivity was nonsignificant. The findings suggest that behavioral, socia l cognitive, and biological factors may be important correlates of fea r of falling. Further support is provided for the utility of self-effi cacy measures in the prediction of fear of falling, although reliance on any one measure to assess this construct may underestimate the role of self-efficacy.