The Mediating Effect of Frailty in the Relationship between Depression and Falls among Older People Living Alone in Korea

Yeon-Ha Kim; Chung-Min Cho

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i3.8936

The Mediating Effect of Frailty in the Relationship between Depression and Falls among Older People Living Alone in Korea

Iran J Public Health. 2022 Mar;51(3):596-605. doi: 10.18502/ijph.v51i3.8936.

Authors

Yeon-Ha Kim¹, Chung-Min Cho²

Affiliations

¹ College of Nursing, Korea National University of Transportation, 61 Daehak-ro, Jeungpyeong-gun, Chungbuk, South Korea.
² College of Nursing, Sungshin Women's University, Dobong-ro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Abstract

Background: We explored the potential mediating role of frailty in the relationship between depression and falls.

Methods: The participants were 1,408 community-dwelling older people living alone in South Korea. The potential mediating role of frailty in the relationship between depression and falls was evaluated through univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Baron and Kenny's three-step criteria for mediation were used to examine the mediating effect.

Results: Frailty fully mediated the association between severe depression and falls in univariate (t=11.58, P<.05) and multivariate (t=10.42, P<.05) analyses.

Conclusion: Frailty is a valuable target for fall interventions in severely depressed older people living alone.

Keywords: Accidental falls; Depression; Frail elderly; Health service; Living independent.