Association between Fear of Falling and Social Isolation: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea

Joo-Ho Park (박주호); Min-Soo Kim (김민수); Yang Jeong Min (양정민); Kim, Jae-Hyun (김재현)

Association between Fear of Falling and Social Isolation: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea

The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies
Abbr : JTS
2023, 7(3), pp.311-324
Publisher : The Society for Transdisciplinary Studies
Research Area : Interdisciplinary Studies > Interdisciplinary Research
Received : June 22, 2023
Accepted : September 18, 2023
Published : December 31, 2023

Joo-Ho Park ¹, Min-Soo Kim ¹, Yang Jeong Min ¹, Kim, Jae-Hyun ¹

¹단국대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of fear of falling on social isolation among Korean adults aged 19 or older. In this study, 224,341 people were analyzed using the 2019 Community Health Survey, excluding missing values, Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the relationship between fear of falling and social isolation. As a result of analysis across all age groups, compared to the group without fear of falling, the social isolation rate of the group with a slight fear of falling was 1.21 times (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 1.21, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.15-1.27 ), compared to the group without fear of falling, the group with high fear of falling was 2.12 times (AOR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.98-2.27). Additionally, a stronger association between fear of falling and social isolation was found in the group over 65 years of age compared to the group under 64 years of age. Meanwhile, as a result of a stratified analysis by whether or not there was regular exercise, it was found that fear of falling had a greater impact on social isolation in the group over 65 years old when they did not exercise regularly compared to the group under 64 years old. This study conducted a statistical analysis of the relationship between fear of falling and social isolation to suggest policy and institutional measures to reduce social isolation among the old age group. Since the proportion of the old age group with a fear of falling has been shown to be relatively high in Korean society, it is expected that social isolation can be prevented if policy and institutional measures are devel oped to provide regular exercise for the old age group.

KEYWORDS

Fear of Falling, Regular Exercise, Social Isolation, The Non-Old Age Group, The Old Age Group

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

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