Relationship between Exercise, Self-efficacy for Exercise, and Grade of Frailty in Community Dwelling Older Adults

A Cross-sectional Observation Study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between exercise, self-efficacy for exercise, and grade of frailty in community dwelling older adults.

Methods: A total of 212 subjects older than 65 years who lived independently and did not have nursing care insurance were included in the study (85 males, 127 females; mean age, 76 years). Exercise habits were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire and self-efficacy for exercise by the scale of self-efficacy for exercise. The Japanese Cardiovascular Health Study Index was used to classify the grade of frailty in the subjects as either robust, pre-frailty, or frailty.

Results: Multiple logistic analysis showed that the factors that related significantly with pre-frailty were no walking habit (odds ratio 11.521), no muscle training（odds ratio 6.526), and not participating in group exercise (odds ratio 10.089). The lower values of the self-efficacy scale for exercise were the only values that showed a relationship with frailty (odds ratio 0.826, 95% CI 0.714–0.955).

Conclusion: This study showed that exercise habit, and psychological and educational support was important for preventing progression of frailty in older adults who lived in the community.