Biopsychosocial Factors Associated with Frailty among Older Adults in the Service Area of a Primary Care Unit in Nonthaburi Province

Abstract

Frailty among older adults is a major public health concern that increases the risk of illness, falls, disability, and mortality, particularly in semi-urban and semi-rural areas where social conditions and ways of life are continuously changing. This study aimed to examine biopsychosocial factors associated with frailty among older adults in the service area of a primary care unit in Nonthaburi Province. This study used an analytical cross-sectional design. The participants consisted of 148 older adults selected by a convenience sampling technique from those residing in the service area of a primary care unit in Nonthaburi Province. The research instruments included a demographic questionnaire, a social factors assessment, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the FRAIL Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and logistic regression. Frailty was defined as a binary outcome for logistic regression analysis, coded as
0 = non-frail/pre-frail and 1 = frail. The results showed that most participants were female (70.9%), aged 60–69 years (50.0%), and had underlying diseases (81.8%). Logistic regression analysis showed that depressive symptoms and social factors were significantly associated with frailty, whereas age and body mass index were not significantly associated in the final model. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate the importance of screening for depression and assessing social factors to develop an effective care plan for the frail older population.