Citation

Gallagher NA, Clarke PJ, Loveland-Cherry CJ, Ronis DL, Gretebeck KA. J. Aging Phys. Act. 2014; 23(1): 64-71.

Affiliation

University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

10.1123/japa.2012-0287

PMID

24412975

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined the association of self-efficacy with neighborhood walking in older adult (M age = 76.1, SD = 8.34) fallers (n = 108) and nonfallers (n = 217) while controlling for demographic characteristics and mobility. Hierarchical multiple regression indicated that the full model explained 39% of the variance in neighborhood walking in fallers (p < .001) and 24% in non-fallers (p < .001). Self-efficacy explained 23% of the variance in fallers (p < .001) and 11% in nonfallers (p < .001). Neighborhood walking was significantly associated with self-efficacy for individual barriers in both groups. Self-efficacy for neighborhood barriers trended towards significance in fallers (β = .18, p = .06). Fall history did not moderate the relationship between self-efficacy and neighborhood walking. Walking interventions for older adults should address self-efficacy in overcoming individual walking barriers. Those targeting fallers should consider addressing self-efficacy for overcoming neighborhood barriers.

Language: en