Citation

Sutin AR, Luchetti M, Stephan Y, Canada B, Terracciano A. Gerontol. Geriatr. Med. 2024; 10: e23337214241236039.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, The Author(s), Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/23337214241236039

PMID

38455641

PMCID

PMC10919135

Abstract

Background and Aim: Purpose in life is an aspect of well-being that is associated with better health outcomes in older adulthood. We examine the association between purpose in life and likelihood of a recent fall and risk of an incident fall over time.

METHODS: Purpose in life and falls were reported concurrently and falls were reported again up to 16 years later in four established longitudinal studies of older adults (total N = 25,418).

RESULTS: A random-effects meta-analysis of the four samples indicated that purpose was associated with a 14% lower likelihood of having fallen recently at baseline (meta-analytic OR = 0.88, 95% CI [0.84-0.92]). Among participants who reported no falls at baseline (N = 15,632), purpose was associated with a nearly 10% lower risk of an incident fall over the up to 16-year follow-up (meta-analytic HR = 0.92, 95% CI [0.90-0.94]). These associations were independent of age, sex, race, ethnicity, and education, were not moderated by these factors, and persisted controlling for physical activity and disease burden.

CONCLUSION and Recommendations: Purpose in life is a meaningful aspect of well-being that may be useful to identify individuals at risk for falling, particularly among individuals without traditional risk factors, and be a target of intervention to reduce fall risk.

Language: en

Keywords

aging; falls; meaning; meta-analysis; prospective; purpose