Personality Traits and Health Behaviors as Predictors of Fall Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine whether personality traits and health behaviors predict falls in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Longitudinal data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) at baseline (2011-2015) and follow-up two (2018-2021) were analyzed using logistic regression for 5270 adults aged 65 and older, with an alpha level of 0.05. Results: At baseline, participants' mean age was 72 years, with 51.1% female. Most identified as White (96.7%) and had education beyond secondary (81.5%). Increased physical activity (OR: 1.012, 95% CI: 1.01-1.014), decreased alcohol consumption (OR: 1.634, 95% CI: 1.419-1.883), and smoking cessation (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 2.198-3.568) increased fall risk, while conscientiousness (OR: 0.832, 95% CI: 0.792-0.874) and openness (OR: 0.959, 95% CI: 0.922-0.998) were protective at follow-up two. Personality changes significantly influence falls. Discussion: Findings highlight the complex interplay between personality traits, health behaviors, and falls, suggesting a one-size-fits-all approach to fall prevention may be insufficient.