Sex Differences in Perceptions toward Falls among Older Adults Living in the Community in Singapore

​Fall prevention strategies informed by understanding sex differences in the percepton of falls may be fruitful.

Objectives
In the current research, we examined the consequence of having a recent fall episode on sex differences in fall perception based on the postulation that having a recent fall can lead to perceived susceptibility and attenuate male stereotypic perceptions toward falls.

Methods and Results
Examining 549 older adults (337 women) living in the community, men reported higher falls efficacy, less negative perception related to the effect of a fall, and lower tendency to restrict activities to prevent falls. These sex differences were observed only among those who did not have a recent fall episode, and no significant sex differences were observed among those who fell.

Discussion
The findings suggest that a recent fall episode may underlie sex differences in falls perception. The implications of sex differences in perceptions in falls for healthcare delivery and outcomes are discussed.

SOURCE:
Journal of Aging and Health

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264320925972

AUTHOR(S):
Tay PKC, Chan A, Tan PJ, Wong CH