Physical Resilience and Its Influencing Factors Among Older Patients with Fragility Fractures: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Latent Profile Analysis.

Background

Physical resilience (PR) plays a critical role in the functional recovery of older adults following fragility fractures, yet individual heterogeneity remains underexplored.

Objective

To identify latent profiles of PR among older adults following fragility fractures and to examine their biopsychosocial predictors.

Methods

From October 2025 to March 2026, 224 older adults with fragility fractures were recruited using convenience sampling from a tertiary hospital in China. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, the Physical Resilience Instrument for Older Adults, Perceived Social Support Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Latent profile analysis identified profiles, followed by multinomial logistic regression examining biopsychosocial predictors.

Results

Three distinct resilience profiles emerged: low resilience-physically and mentally vulnerable (31.7%); moderate resilience-limited adaptation (51.5%); and high resilience-potential activated (16.8%). Significant profile predictors included handgrip strength, nutritional risk, marital status, general self-efficacy, and perceived social support (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The distinct heterogeneity of PR among older adults with fragility fractures underscores the necessity for tailored, risk-stratified nursing. In clinical practice, interventions for the highly vulnerable low-resilience group should prioritize multidisciplinary nutritional optimization and early physical rehabilitation. For patients with moderate resilience, integrating spousal support and cognitive-behavioral strategies is crucial to enhance self-efficacy and prevent functional decline. For the high-resilience cohort, leveraging robust social support networks and empowerment-based strategies can maximize their intrinsic recovery potential.