Association between Balance Confidence and Risk of Fall among Geriatric Population

Farwa Kaynat; Soyba Nazir; Syed Muhammad Kumail; Shiza Ramal; Ateeb Arooj; Anum Farooq

doi:10.70749/ijbr.v3i1.540

Authors

Farwa Kaynat University of Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Soyba Nazir Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Syed Muhammad Kumail PBL Care Private Limited, United Kingdom.
Shiza Ramal Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ateeb Arooj Pakistan Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.
Anum Farooq Pakistan Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i1.540

Keywords:

Balance Confidence, , Fear of Falling, Geriatric Population, Fall Risk, ABC Scale, FES-I, Cross-sectional Study, Psychological Resilience

Abstract

Background: Falls among the geriatric population are a leading cause of injury and reduced quality of life. Psychological factors, such as balance confidence, play a critical role in fall prevention, yet their relationship with fall risk remains underexplored. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between balance confidence and the risk of falls in older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 245 participants aged 65–90 years from three old-age homes in Lahore, Pakistan. Balance confidence was assessed using the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, while fear of falling (FoF) was measured using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, independent t-tests, and multivariate regression analysis in SPSS version 25. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Results: The mean ABC score was 57.6 ± 13.4%, and the mean FES-I score was 31.4 ± 6.8. A significant negative correlation was found between ABC and FES-I scores (r = -0.72, p < 0.001). Females reported lower balance confidence (54.1 ± 12.8) and higher FoF (33.1 ± 7.2) than males (p < 0.01). Prior fall history and higher FES-I scores significantly predicted lower ABC scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Higher balance confidence was associated with a reduced risk of falling. Interventions targeting balance confidence are crucial for fall prevention in older adults.

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