%0 Journal Article
%T Purpose in life and risk of falls: a meta-analysis of cross-sectional and prospective associations
%J Gerontology and geriatric medicine
%D 2024
%A Sutin, Angelina R.
%A Luchetti, Martina
%A Stephan, Yannick
%A Canada, Brice
%A Terracciano, Antonio
%V 10
%N 
%P e23337214241236039-e23337214241236039
%X 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>
%G en
%I SAGE Publishing
%@ 2333-7214
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/23337214241236039