A1 Journal article (refereed)
Associations of neuroticism with falls in older adults : do psychological factors mediate the association? (2022)

Turunen, K. M., Kokko, K., Kekäläinen, T., Alén, M., Hänninen, T., Pynnönen, K., Laukkanen, P., Tirkkonen, A., Törmäkangas, T., & Sipilä, S. (2022). Associations of neuroticism with falls in older adults : do psychological factors mediate the association?. Aging and Mental Health, 26(1), 77-85. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1841735

JYU authors or editors

Turunen, Katri
Kokko, Katja
Kekäläinen, Tiia
Pynnönen, Katja
Laukkanen, Pia
Tirkkonen, Anna-Katriina
Törmäkangas, Timo
Sipilä, Sarianna

Publication details

All authors or editors: Turunen, Katri Maria; Kokko, Katja; Kekäläinen, Tiia; Alén, Markku; Hänninen, Tuomo; Pynnönen, Katja; Laukkanen, Pia; Tirkkonen, Anna; Törmäkangas, Timo; Sipilä, Sarianna

Journal or series: Aging and Mental Health

ISSN: 1360-7863

eISSN: 1364-6915

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 06/11/2020

Volume: 26

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 77-85

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1841735

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/72540

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Neuroticism predicts falls in older people. In addition, concern about falling and depressive symptoms are associated with fall risk. This study examined whether concern about falling and depressive symptoms mediate the association between neuroticism and falls.
METHOD
Cross-sectional data on 314 community-dwelling people aged 70–85 years were utilized. Neuroticism was assessed with a short modified form of the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Indoor and outdoor falls during the past year were self-reported. Concern about falling was assessed with the Falls Efficacy Scale-International and depressive symptoms with the Geriatric Depression Scale-15. Path modeling was used to examine the associations between variables.
RESULTS
Mediating pathways linking neuroticism and falls were found: neuroticism was positively associated with concern about falling, which was subsequently linked to indoor falls (indirect effect β = 0.34, p = 0.002) and recurrent outdoor falls (β = 0.19, p = 0.045). Moreover, a pathway from neuroticism to indoor falls through depressive symptoms was also found (β = 0.21, p = 0.054). In other words, higher neuroticism was associated with higher concern about falling and depressive symptoms, both of which were linked to falls. The associations were independent of age, sex, use of psychotropic, chronic diseases, persistent pain, physical performance, physical activity, and executive functioning that are known risk factors for falls.
DISCUSSION
The results indicate that concern about falling and depressive symptoms mediate the association between neuroticism and falling. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the causality of the findings and to examine the potential to reduce falls by targeting concern about falling and depressive symptoms among older adults higher in neuroticism.

Keywords: older people; falling over; risk factors; psychological factors; personality traits; fear (emotions); concern; cross-sectional research