Social Mediators of the Association Between Depression and Falls Among Older Adults

Objectives To investigate the role of social factors in the association between depression and falls among older adults. Methods The sample included data from 3443 older adults from three waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2010-2014). A Lifestyle Questionnaire was used to measure social engagement, social network contact, and neighborhood social context. Mediating effects of social factors were estimated through causal mediation analysis. Results: Poorer social engagement and network contact were associated with greater likelihood of falls, while poorer neighborhood context was associated with greater likelihood of fall injuries. Social engagement mediated a significant portion of the effect of depression on falls (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.06), and neighborhood context mediated a portion of the effect of depression on fall injuries (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07). Discussion: The direct and indirect impacts of social factors suggest that considering them may help improve existing fall prevention approaches.

Automated summary

This study examines the role of social factors in the association between depression and falls among older adults. The results indicate that poorer social engagement and network contact are linked to a higher likelihood of falls, while poorer neighborhood context is tied to a higher likelihood of fall injuries. Social engagement partially mediates the effect of depression on falls, and neighborhood context partially mediates the effect of depression on fall injuries.