CONSEQUENCES OF FEAR OF FALLING AND ACTIVITY RESTRICTION

该项目的广泛长期目标是利用从流行病学研究中获得的知识，制定适合害怕跌倒的老年人和因害怕跌倒而减少活动的老年人需要的干预策略。本提案的具体目的是：1)确定a)有跌倒恐惧但不因这种恐惧而减少活动的老年人（以下称为独自害怕跌倒的人）和b)有跌倒恐惧但因这种恐惧而减少活动的老年人（以下称为害怕跌倒并伴有活动限制的人）的独特的身体、心理社会和人口特征；2)评估3年来跌倒恐惧和相关活动限制对自我报告的基本日常生活活动（BADL）和工具性日常生活活动（IADL）功能变化的影响；3)确定三年内跌倒恐惧与功能衰退之间的关系是否以身体能力下降为中介。

The broad long term objective of this project is to use the knowledge gained from epidemiologic studies to develop intervention strategies tailored to the needs of older adults with fear of falling and those who cut down on activities due to fear of falling. The specific aims of this proposal are: 1) To identify the distinctive physical, psychosocial, and demographic characteristics of a) older adults with a fear of falling who do not cut down on activity due to that fear (hereafter known as those with fear of falling alone), and b) older adults with fear of falling who cut down on activity due to that fear (hereafter known as those with fear of falling and associated activity restriction); 2) To evaluate the effects of fear of falling and associated activity restriction on changes in self-reported function in basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) over a three-year period; and 3) To determine whether the relationship between fear of falling and functional decline over a three-year period is mediated by decline in physical capabilities.