@article{ref1,
title="Purpose in life and risk of falls: a meta-analysis of cross-sectional and prospective associations",
journal="Gerontology and geriatric medicine",
year="2024",
author="Sutin, Angelina R. and Luchetti, Martina and Stephan, Yannick and Canada, Brice and Terracciano, Antonio",
volume="10",
number="",
pages="e23337214241236039-e23337214241236039",
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. <br><br>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). <br><br>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. <br><br>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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2333-7214",
doi="10.1177/23337214241236039",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/23337214241236039"
}