Japanese Journal of Health Promotion and Physical Therapy · Feb 28, 2026
Association Between Fall Self-Efficacy Decline and Apathy/Depressive Symptoms in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Requiring Care
By Hagihara T, Murata S, Iwamoto K et al.
INTRODUCTION: The objective was to examine the characteristics of depression and physical function in community-dwelling older adults requiring care who had reduced fall self-efficacy accompanied by apathy. METHODS: The participants were 59 older adults requiring care who used day care services. Based on scores on the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale, which assesses fall self-efficacy, and the Apathy scale, which assesses apathy, participants were classified into a control group, a reduced fall self-efficacy group, and a reduced fall self-efficacy+apathy group, and depression and physical function were compared among the ３ groups. RESULTS: Geriatric depression scale 15 scores were significantly higher in the reduced fall self-efficacy+apathy group than in the control and reduced fall self-efficacy groups (p＜0.01). Quadriceps muscle strength, used to assess lower limb muscle strength, was significantly lower in the reduced fall self-efficacy+apathy group than in the control group (p＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Community-dwelling older adults requiring care who had reduced fall self-efficacy accompanied by apathy exhibited depressive tendencies, and, regarding physical function, it was suggested that their lower limb muscle strength may be reduced.