Nutritional, functional and psychosocial correlates of disability among older adults

Purpose. The purpose of the present study was to examine the nutritional, functional and psychosocial correlates of disability among 54 older adults aged 65 years of age or older. Methods. Using validated questionnaires and tests, nutritional risk (Mini-Nutritional Assessment), functional capacity (mobility, balance, endurance, grip strength and lower extremity strength), the psychosocial factors (life satisfaction, depression, and social support) and level of disability of the participants were examined. Results. The study showed that functional mobility was the strongest correlate of disability, even after controlling for age, gender and residential living status (p <.05). Life satisfaction and nutrition risk had marginal significance as being related to disability. Conclusion. The results of the present study have implications for the development of evidence-based health promotion interventions for older adults.