Predicting task self-efficacy on balance confidence and individual characteristics in older adults

Purpose of the research was predicting task self-efficacy on balance confidence and individual characteristics in men and women older adults at Arak. Statistics population were men and women older adults at Arak in years 2012-2013 from witch 473 subjects with mean age 68. 86 years from 5 civil district selected randomly and participate in study voluntarily. Data collected with individual characteristics questionnaire، Activities-specific Balance Confidence، and Task Self-Efficacy Scale، and a single question about Fall Frequency in past year. Questionnaire filled by 8 trained testers. According research results، 93 (21. 2%) of subjects had regular physical activity، 345 (78. 8%) without regular physical activity، 337 (72%) were employee and 132 (28%) not employee. The results indicated that age، gender، balance confidence، and fall frequency in past year were predictors of task self-efficacy (p≤0. 05) and 82% of task self-efficacy explained by balance confidence. Also، some individual characteristics such as economic status، job status، and physical activity were not predictors of task self-efficacy. Therefore، it is seem that balance confidence، fall history، age، and gender affecting self-perceptions of older adults and had main role in daily activities self-efficacy and functional independence and should be considered in future studies.