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Self-efficacy, physical decline, and change in functioning in community-living elders: a prospective study
C F Mendes de Leon1, T E Seeman, D I Baker
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. MendesdeCF@MASPO2.MAS.Yale.Edu
Summary
High self-efficacy protects older adults from declining functional status. This protective effect is stronger when physical performance decreases, highlighting self-efficacy
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Functional status decline is a major concern in community-residing elderly persons.
- Self-efficacy, the belief in one's ability to succeed, may play a role in maintaining function.
- Understanding factors that mitigate functional decline is crucial for healthy aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective role of self-efficacy against functional status decline in older adults.
- To examine the interaction between self-efficacy and physical performance changes on functional status.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 1,103 community-residing individuals aged 72 years and older.
- In-home assessments at baseline and 18-month follow-up.
- OLS regression analysis controlling for sociodemographic and health variables, including physical performance tests and activities of daily living (ADLs).
Main Results:
- Lower self-efficacy was marginally associated with a decline in functional status.
- A significant interaction effect was found between self-efficacy and changes in physical performance.
- Low self-efficacy particularly predicted functional decline in individuals experiencing a decrease in physical capacity.
Conclusions:
- Self-efficacy demonstrates a buffering effect on functional decline in older adults.
- Maintaining self-efficacy may be important for older individuals, especially those with diminishing physical capabilities.
- Interventions aimed at enhancing self-efficacy could support functional independence in the elderly.