Associations Between Multiple Falls and Mental Health Indices in Korean Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of falls, mental health issues, and health behaviors among older adults, as well as to analyze the association between multiple falls and mental health status in this population. Methods: We utilized data from the 2017, 2019, and 202...

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Main Authors: Chaelyn Lim, Hyun-Jin Son, Byung-Gwon Kim, Byeng-Chul Yu, Jiwon Kim, Young-Seoub Hong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-24-482.pdf
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author Chaelyn Lim
Hyun-Jin Son
Byung-Gwon Kim
Byeng-Chul Yu
Jiwon Kim
Young-Seoub Hong
author_facet Chaelyn Lim
Hyun-Jin Son
Byung-Gwon Kim
Byeng-Chul Yu
Jiwon Kim
Young-Seoub Hong
author_sort Chaelyn Lim
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of falls, mental health issues, and health behaviors among older adults, as well as to analyze the association between multiple falls and mental health status in this population. Methods: We utilized data from the 2017, 2019, and 2021 Korean Community Health Survey, a nationwide survey organized by region and conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Participants were categorized into no-fall, single-fall, and multiple fall groups based on responses to an index question regarding fall experiences and the number of such incidents reported in the survey. The chi-square test was applied to understand the characteristics of the elderly population in the community. Subsequently, multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to clarify the association between falls and mental health. Results: Integrated data analysis revealed that 11.3% of participants experienced a single fall, while 5.7% reported multiple falls. Participants from low-education and low-income backgrounds exhibited relatively high rates of falls. Additionally, non-drinkers and non-smokers reported falls more frequently than their counterparts who consumed alcohol and smoked. Multinomial logistic regression revealed significant associations between multiple falls and mental health factors. In particular, the severity of depression was directly proportional to the likelihood of experiencing multiple falls, with an odds ratio of 2.95 (95% confidence interval, 2.49 to 3.50). Conclusions: We identified associations between various mental health-related factors—including sleep duration, subjective stress, the presence of depression, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score—and the occurrence of multiple falls.
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spelling doaj-art-3b6afa65d5e243bcb722d2ece61397a82025-08-20T02:09:51ZengKorean Society for Preventive MedicineJournal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health1975-83752233-45212025-05-0158326927710.3961/jpmph.24.4822421Associations Between Multiple Falls and Mental Health Indices in Korean Older Adults: A Cross-sectional StudyChaelyn Lim0Hyun-Jin Son1Byung-Gwon Kim2Byeng-Chul Yu3Jiwon Kim4Young-Seoub Hong5 Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea Department of Preventive Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, KoreaObjectives: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of falls, mental health issues, and health behaviors among older adults, as well as to analyze the association between multiple falls and mental health status in this population. Methods: We utilized data from the 2017, 2019, and 2021 Korean Community Health Survey, a nationwide survey organized by region and conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Participants were categorized into no-fall, single-fall, and multiple fall groups based on responses to an index question regarding fall experiences and the number of such incidents reported in the survey. The chi-square test was applied to understand the characteristics of the elderly population in the community. Subsequently, multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to clarify the association between falls and mental health. Results: Integrated data analysis revealed that 11.3% of participants experienced a single fall, while 5.7% reported multiple falls. Participants from low-education and low-income backgrounds exhibited relatively high rates of falls. Additionally, non-drinkers and non-smokers reported falls more frequently than their counterparts who consumed alcohol and smoked. Multinomial logistic regression revealed significant associations between multiple falls and mental health factors. In particular, the severity of depression was directly proportional to the likelihood of experiencing multiple falls, with an odds ratio of 2.95 (95% confidence interval, 2.49 to 3.50). Conclusions: We identified associations between various mental health-related factors—including sleep duration, subjective stress, the presence of depression, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score—and the occurrence of multiple falls.http://jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-24-482.pdffallsmental healthelderly
spellingShingle Chaelyn Lim
Hyun-Jin Son
Byung-Gwon Kim
Byeng-Chul Yu
Jiwon Kim
Young-Seoub Hong
Associations Between Multiple Falls and Mental Health Indices in Korean Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
falls
mental health
elderly
title Associations Between Multiple Falls and Mental Health Indices in Korean Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full Associations Between Multiple Falls and Mental Health Indices in Korean Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study
title_fullStr Associations Between Multiple Falls and Mental Health Indices in Korean Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Associations Between Multiple Falls and Mental Health Indices in Korean Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study
title_short Associations Between Multiple Falls and Mental Health Indices in Korean Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study
title_sort associations between multiple falls and mental health indices in korean older adults a cross sectional study
topic falls
mental health
elderly
url http://jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-24-482.pdf
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