Quality of life, self-esteem, and fear of falling in older individuals undergoing strength training

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Yan Ferreira-Ribeiro
Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2460-8908
Ravini de Souza-Sodré
Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0413-0497
Giullio César Pereira Salustiano Mallen da Silva
Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8701-8550
Yuri Rolim Lopes Silva
Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5973-3773
Alex Meireles
Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7898-049X
Diego Gama-Linhares
Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2901-3273
Dirceu Ribeiro Nogueira da Gama
Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4972-650X
Rodrigo Gomes de Souza Vale
Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3049-8773

Abstract

The deleterious effects of aging affect functional autonomy, physical fitness and quality of life. The reduction in lean mass, muscle strength and reaction time can compromise gait and balance, increase the risk of falls and decrease self-esteem. Strength training appears to be an ally to reduce these damages. The objective of this study was to analyze the associations between quality of life, self-esteem and fear of falling in elderly individuals undergoing strength training. This descriptive, quantitative, and correlational cross-sectional study analyzed 38 individuals aged 60 to 93 years who practiced resistance training regularly were analyzed, 28 women and 10 men. The instruments used for the evaluation were "WHOQOL-Old", "Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale" (RSES) and "FES-I Brazil". The Spearman correlation test showed a positive correlation between overall quality of life (OQL) and self-esteem (rho= 0.682; p< 0.001) and a negative correlation between OQL and fear of falling (rho= -0.372; p=0.022). No correlations were found between self-esteem and fear of falling. It was concluded that elderly individuals who practiced strength training and presented higher levels of quality of life indicated higher self-esteem and less fear of falling.

Item information
Published: Apr 7, 2026
Issue: Vol. 27 No. 1 (2026): Revista Ciencias de la Actividad Física UCM
Section: Research
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29035/rcaf.27.1.7
Keywords: Elderly person, Resistence training, Life style, Accidental falls

Article Details

How to Cite
Ferreira-Ribeiro, Y. ., de Souza-Sodré, R., Pereira Salustiano Mallen da Silva, G. C., Lopes Silva, Y. R., Meireles, A., Gama-Linhares, D., Ribeiro Nogueira da Gama, D. ., & Gomes de Souza Vale, R. (2026). Quality of life, self-esteem, and fear of falling in older individuals undergoing strength training. Revista Ciencias De La Actividad Física UCM, 27(1), 99-110. https://doi.org/10.29035/rcaf.27.1.7
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