Exploring attentional focus of older adult fallers during heightened postural threat
dc.contributor.author | Ellmers, TJ | |
dc.contributor.author | Cocks, AJ | |
dc.contributor.author | Young, WR | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2019-09-30T12:24:40Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2019-05-22 | |
dc.description.abstract | Objectives Threats to balance, and subsequent increases in fall-related anxiety, can disrupt attentional processing during gait in older adults, leading to behavioral adaptations which may increase fall risk. However, limited research has investigated what changes in attention occur to contribute to these disruptions. The aim of this research was to describe changes in attention that occur during gait when older adults’ balance is threatened, while exploring how previous fall history and trait movement reinvestment (conscious monitoring and control of movement) also influence attention. Methods Forty older adults reported where they focus their attention when walking during two scenarios: (1) when they are relaxed and there is little risk of falling, and; (2) when their balance is threatened and they are anxious of falling. Results During the high-threat condition, participants reported greater attention towards movement processes, threats to balance, worries/disturbing thoughts and self-regulatory strategies, with less attention directed towards task-irrelevant thoughts. However, fall history influenced attentional focus, with fallers directing greater attention towards worries/disturbing thoughts. Contrary to predictions, trait movement reinvestment was not associated with attention directed towards movement processes. Discussion As processing worries/disturbing thoughts will likely reduce attentional resources available for effective postural control, we highlight this as one potential area to target interventions aimed at reducing the likelihood of repeated falling. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.citation | Published online 22 May 2019 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1007/s00426-019-01190-6 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10871/38971 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_GB |
dc.publisher | Springer Verlag | en_GB |
dc.rights | © The Author(s) 2019. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. | en_GB |
dc.title | Exploring attentional focus of older adult fallers during heightened postural threat | en_GB |
dc.type | Article | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2019-09-30T12:24:40Z | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0340-0727 | |
dc.description | This is the final version. Available from Springer Verlag via the DOI in this record. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.journal | Psychological Research | en_GB |
dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | en_GB |
dcterms.dateAccepted | 2019-04-17 | |
rioxxterms.version | VoR | en_GB |
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate | 2019-04-17 | |
rioxxterms.type | Journal Article/Review | en_GB |
refterms.dateFCD | 2019-09-30T12:21:31Z | |
refterms.versionFCD | VoR | |
refterms.dateFOA | 2019-09-30T12:24:44Z | |
refterms.panel | C | en_GB |
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's licence is described as © The Author(s) 2019. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.