TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - The onset of falls and its effects on perceived social exclusion and loneliness. Evidence from a nationally representative longitudinal study
JO  - Archives of gerontology and geriatrics
A1  - Petersen, Nicola
A1  - König, Hans-Helmut
A1  - Hajek, André
SP  - e104622
EP  - e104622
VL  - 100
IS  - 
N2  - PURPOSE: It remains unclear how falls affect older people's social relations. In particular, the characteristics of fallers in their second half of life are unclear. Several studies have reported that people with a low educational level fall more often, and that low educational level is a predictor for perceived social exclusion. We conducted the first longitudinal analysis on the association between falls and social relations among people of different educational levels. <br><br>METHODS: Longitudinal data were used from two waves (2014 and 2017) of the German Ageing Survey with an analytical sample of 11,227 individuals aged ≥ 40 years. Fall history in the past 12 months (yes; no) was assessed. Perceived social exclusion (outcome measure) was assessed using a validated scale developed by Bude and Lantermann. Loneliness (outcome measure) was measured using a short form of the validated De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. <br><br>RESULTS: Controlling for various potential confounding variables, fixed effects regression analysis stratified by educational level and gender revealed that experiencing a fall was associated with greater perceived social exclusion (β = 0.21 p < 0.05) among men with low/medium educational level. The experience of a fall was not associated with increased loneliness. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Our results suggest an association between falls and feelings of social exclusion. This association was found only for men in their second half of life with low/medium educational level. Falls were not associated with loneliness.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0167-4943
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2022.104622
ID  - ref1
ER  -