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.