Comprehensive Analysis of Factors Affecting Falls in the Elderly in the Light of Biopsychosocial Approach: A Logistic Regression Model

The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyze the factors influencing fall risk in older adults. A detailed assessment form was developed based on risk factors identified in previous literature and expert opinion. This form encompassed personal factors such as age and gender, environmental factors including icy surfaces and stair height, and psychological and functional variables such as education level, depression, difficulty with sitting and standing, and dressing. Among the 245 participants included in the study, 28.5% (n = 70) had a history of at least one fall. Using the data collected, the impact of these factors on fall risk was analyzed through logistic regression modeling. No statistically significant differences were found between individuals who had fallen and those who had not in terms of body mass index, gender, smoking status, or exercise habits (p > 0.05).The logistic regression model demonstrated strong predictive performance, with an overall accuracy of 88.2%, sensitivity of 77.1%, and specificity of 92.6%. Medication use was significantly associated with a reduced risk of falling (p = 0.002), while decreased muscle strength (p = 0.024) and difficulty in sitting or standing (p = 0.019) significantly increased the risk. Among environmental variables, the use of assistive devices—such as canes (p = 0.002) and glasses (p < 0.001)—and the presence of favorable environmental conditions for example, good ambient lighting (p = 0.033) were associated with a significantly lower risk of falling. In conclusion, our logistic regression model showed that a moderate to good discrimination between bio-psycho-social indicators and fall risk could be achieved. Functional mobility indicators such as difficulty in sitting up and down and decreased muscle strength were consistently associated with higher risk. However, findings related to medication use and assistive devices came to the forefront as factors reducing the risk of falls.