Self-Efficacy Mediates Walking Performance in Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis

Background. Self-efficacy is a determinant of walking performance in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. We examined whether self-efficacy mediated the effect of age, psychosocial, impairment, and mechanical factors on walking performance. Methods. Fifty-four participants with knee osteoarthritis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2007-10, Vol.62 (10), p.1142-1146
Main Authors: Maly, Monica R., Costigan, Patrick A., Olney, Sandra J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adults
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Arthritis
Depression - etiology
Depression - physiopathology
Exercise Test
Humans
Knee
Likert scale
Medical research
Middle Aged
Muscle Strength - physiology
Obesity - complications
Obesity - physiopathology
Obesity - psychology
Older people
Osteoarthritis, Knee - complications
Osteoarthritis, Knee - physiopathology
Osteoarthritis, Knee - psychology
Sample size
Self Efficacy
Severity of Illness Index
Studies
Walking
Walking - physiology
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Summary:Background. Self-efficacy is a determinant of walking performance in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. We examined whether self-efficacy mediated the effect of age, psychosocial, impairment, and mechanical factors on walking performance. Methods. Fifty-four participants with knee osteoarthritis completed the Six Minute Walk test and Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale. Independent variables reflected age, psychosocial (depressive symptoms), impairment (pain, stiffness), and mechanical (strength, obesity) factors. Results. Self-efficacy fully mediated the effect of age and impairments on walking. The effects of strength were only partially mediated by self-efficacy. Depressive symptoms and obesity were not mediated by self-efficacy. Conclusions. These findings are consistent with Social Cognitive Theory, according to which age may alter outcome expectations, and impairments like pain and stiffness provide negative physiological feedback to influence performance. Mechanical factors like strength and obesity may better represent a person's capabilities and interact with other variables to influence physical performance in older adults with knee osteoarthritis.
ISSN:1079-5006
1758-535X
DOI:10.1093/gerona/62.10.1142