Fear of falling (FoF) is common in older adults and can reduce physical activity, mobility, and independence. As assistive technologies become more common, understanding how attitudes towards technology influence FoF is important. This study examined indoor FoF and its association with technology acceptance among 500 community-dwelling Austrian adults aged 65–85 via a cross-sectional web survey. Indoor FoF was assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale–International (FES-I) indoor items. Technology acceptance was measured using the TechPH questionnaire, which captured TechEnthusiasm and TechAnxiety. Logistic regression models were used to analyse associations with FoF, dichotomised at the median. The mean age was 74 years, and 55% of participants were female. Overall, indoor FoF was low. Adjusted models indicated that older age (OR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.04–1.12) and female sex (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.01–2.38) were linked to higher FoF. Greater TechEnthusiasm was associated with lower FoF (OR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.50–0.85), while higher TechAnxiety (i.e., less confidence with technology) was linked to higher FoF (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.40–2.27). The TechEnthusiasm-FoF association was stronger among women. Promoting enthusiasm for technology may reduce FoF, but potential acceptance barriers must be addressed, especially among higher-risk individuals.
Dorner et al. (Tue,) studied this question.