Citation

Lachman ME, Howland J, Tennstedt S, Jette A, Assmann S, Peterson EW. J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci. 1998; 53(1): 43-50.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, Watertown, Massachusetts, USA. lachman@brandeis.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Gerontological Society of America, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9469171

Abstract

A new instrument was developed to assess the role of fear of falling in activity restriction. The instrument assesses fear of falling during performance of 11 activities, and gathers information about participation in these activities as well as the extent to which fear is a source of activity restriction. The instrument demonstrated good internal consistency reliability and showed convergent validity with other fear of falling measures. Concurrent (empirical) validity was demonstrated in that the scale was effective in differentiating among those who were expected to be afraid vs. not afraid of falling. Criterion validity was examined in relation to quality of life variables. Fear of falling was shown to be related to lower quality of life, even when controlling for related background factors. One advantage of this measure over existing measures is the possibility for differentiating fear of falling that leads to activity restriction from fear of falling that accompanies activity. This may provide useful information for those interested in treating fear of falling of promoting activity among the elderly.

Language: en