A Thematic Analysis of Lived Experiences of Falls in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Ventre, JP, Hall, T ORCID: 0009-0005-9658-6695, Holmes, PS and Craig, CE (2024) A Thematic Analysis of Lived Experiences of Falls in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Journal of Frailty, Sarcopenia and Falls, 9 (4). pp. 249-266. ISSN 2459-4148

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Abstract

Objectives
Fall-related injuries occur at a similar prevalence rate in middle-aged and older adults and may increase concerns about falling and future falls. No research to date has examined how experiences of falls and related concerns, differ between middle-aged and older fallers. This study aimed to address this using qualitative interviews.
Methods
Ten middle-aged (55-64 years) and ten older adults (68-83 years) were interviewed about their experiences of falls and concerns about falling. Guided by a social constructivist epistemology, reflexive thematic analysis was used to categorise themes within the data.
Results
Five overarching themes were identified. Four themes showed distinctions between groups (i) perceptions of age-related decline; (ii) ageism: stigma associated with ‘fallers’; (iii) concerns about loss of independence; and (iv) unravelling perceived control. The fifth theme (v) perceptions of falls risk: concerns and awareness, demonstrated the most similarities.
Conclusions
Whilst middle-aged and older fallers showed similar ratings of concern about falling, the behaviours underlying these were qualitatively different. For older adults, concerns led to protective adaptations to reduce their fall risk. Contrastingly, middle-aged adults showed a lack of personal responsibility over their fall risk. The findings highlight the importance of early educational intervention to reduce future falls and frailty.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Concerns about falling; Falls; Middle-aged; Older adults; Thematic Analysis; 52 Psychology; 42 Health Sciences; 35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services; 5201 Applied and Developmental Psychology; Prevention; Physical Injury - Accidents and Adverse Effects; Clinical Research; Aging; 7.1 Individual care needs; Injuries and accidents
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology Q Science > QM Human anatomy Q Science > QP Physiology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Hylonome Publications
Date of acceptance:	17 August 2024
Date of first compliant Open Access:	10 March 2026
Date Deposited:	10 Mar 2026 08:04
Last Modified:	10 Mar 2026 08:04
DOI or ID number:	10.22540/jfsf-09-249
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28213

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