Association between depression, fear of falling and mobility of elderly residents in the community
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23925/2176-901X.2015v18i4p233-246Keywords:
Aged, Depression, Anxiety, Mobility, Falls.Abstract
The fall and depression are major causes for the loss of autonomy and functional independence of older people. This study aimed to verify the association between depression, anxiety, fear of falling and mobility of elderly residents in the community. Data were collected for identification, anthropometric, anxiety (self-reported), fear of falling (self-reported) and falls efficacy scale (FES-I), depression (GDS 15) and last year falls history (HQA). Mobility was assessed using the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). The sample consisted of 50 individuals with a mean age of 74.5(± 6.7 years).The results showed that 32 (64%) individuals had fear of falling and 21 (42%) reported having been dropped in the last year. It was also statistically significant differences in the FES-I variables with HQA (ρ = 0.05) and depression with TUG (ρ = 0.001). The regression binary logistic analysis showed that depression is associated with poorer performance in TUG test (p <0.003). This study identified a high prevalence of fear of falling in the elderly and a significant correlation between FES-I and HQA the elderly. Furthermore, an association was found between TUG test and depression.