Social support as a moderator in a fall prevention program for older adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Falls are a significant risk for community-dwelling older adults.
• Fall prevention programs often focus on physical interventions.
• The role of social support in program efficacy needs further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the moderating effect of social support on a fall prevention program for older adults.
• To assess the impact of an exercise program on physical and psychological functioning.
• To evaluate the long-term effects of the intervention.

Main Methods:

• A 2-month exercise program was implemented for 26 Japanese older adults (≥65 years).
• Measurements included anthropometrical, physical (balance, walking speed), and psychological (falls self-efficacy) functioning.
• Data were collected at baseline, 2 months, and 5 months post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The exercise program did not significantly improve body mass index, balance, or walking speed.
• Falls self-efficacy significantly increased from baseline to 5 months post-intervention.
• The increase in falls self-efficacy was more pronounced in participants with lower baseline social support.

Conclusions:

• Exercise interventions can enhance falls self-efficacy in older adults.
• Social support may moderate the effectiveness of fall prevention programs.
• Future interventions should consider social resources and tailored outcomes.