Depressive Symptoms, Fear of Falling, and the Case for Integrated Mental Health Interventions in Geriatric Care: Breaking the Cycle.

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and fear of falling (FoF) to identify shared risk factors and inform integrated prevention strategies.

METHOD: A cross-sectional correlational design was conducted in three phases to examine relationships between depressive symptoms and FoF in 354 community-dwelling older adults. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, FoF with the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International, and individual differences in behavioral inhibition and action with the Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Activation System.

RESULTS

Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with falls and FoF beyond other factors. The regression model showed that FoF independently predicted depressive symptoms, indicating a direct role in depression. Other factors (age, living alone) may operate through shared pathways.

CONCLUSION

Findings support existing research, suggesting that psychological factors, such as FoF, play a key role in the mental health of older adults.