Citation

Agmon M, Armon G, Denesh S, Doumas M. BMC Geriatr. 2018; 18(1): e1.

Affiliation

School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s12877-017-0691-1

PMID

29291720

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Falls are a major problem for older adults. Many falls occur when a person's attention is divided between two tasks, such as a dual task (DT) involving walking. Most recently, the role of personality in walking performance was addressed; however, its association with DT performance remains to be determined.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study of 73 older, community-dwelling adults explores the association between personality and DT walking and the role of gender in this relationship. Personality was evaluated using the five-factor model. Single-task (ST) and DT assessment of walking-cognitive DT performance comprised a 1-min walking task and an arithmetic task performed separately (ST) and concurrently (DT). Dual-task costs (DTCs), reflecting the proportional difference between ST and DT performance, were also calculated.

RESULTS: Gender plays a role in the relationship between personality and DT. Extraversion was negatively associated with DTC-motor for men (ΔR2 = 0.06, p < 0.05). Conscientiousness was positively associated with DTC-cognition for women (ΔR2 = 0.08, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: These findings may lead to effective personality-based early detection and intervention for fall prevention.

Language: en

Keywords

Conscientiousness; Dual-task; Dual-task cost; Extraversion; Older adults; Personality