Skip to main content

Table 1 Characteristics of the study sample and group comparison (n = 312)

From: Physical functioning associated with life-space mobility in later life among men and women

Variable

Total group

Men

Women

p-value

Sex, n (%)

 Males

147 (47)

-

-

 

 Females

165 (53)

-

-

 

Age, n (%)

   

0.0211

 75

107 (34)

51 (35)

56 (34)

 

 80

94 (30)

55 (37)

39 (23)

 

 85

67 (22)

26 (18)

41 (25)

 

 90

44 (14)

15 (10)

29 (18)

 

Marital status, n (%)

   

 < 0.0011

 Married

164 (53)

114 (78)

50 (30)

 

 Widows/widowers

119 (38)

22 (15)

97 (59)

 

 Never married

13 (4)

4 (3)

9 (6)

 

 Divorced

16 (5)

7 (5)

9 (6)

 

Type of housing, n (%)

   

 < 0.0011

 Own house

157 (50)

94 (64)

63 (38)

 

 Apartment

155 (50)

53 (36)

102 (62)

 

Type of living area, n (%)

   

0.0452

 Living in town > 5000 inhabitants

205 (66)

87 (60)

118 (72)

 

 Living in village 200–5000 inhabitants

68 (22)

41 (28)

27 (16)

 

 Living in small village < 200 inhabitants

13 (4)

7 (5)

7 (4)

 

 Living in the countryside, not in village

25 (8)

12 (8)

13 (8)

 

Use of assistive devices, n (%)

   

0.0041

 Yes

155 (50)

60 (41)

95 (58)

 

 No

156 (50)

86 (59)

70 (42)

 

Driving a car

   

 < 0.0011

 Yes

160 (51)

108 (73)

51 (32)

 

 No

152 (59)

39 (27)

113 (68)

 

LSA total score (0–120), mean (SD)

64 (23)

72 (21)

58 (23)

 < 0.0012

 Independent life-spacea (0–5), median (Q1-Q3)

4 (2–5)

5 (4–5)

4 (1–5)

 < 0.0012

 Assistive life-spaceb (0–5), median (Q1-Q3)

5 (4–5)

5 (4–5)

4 (3–5)

 < 0.0012

 Maximal life-spacec (0–5), median (Q1-Q3)

5 (5–5)

5 (5–5)

5 (4–5)

0.062

SPPB total score (0–12), median (Q1-Q3)

10 (7–11)

10 (8–12)

9 (7–11)

0.0012

 total balance (0–4), median (Q1-Q3)

4 (3–4)

4 (4–4)

4 (3–4)

 < 0.0012

 gait speed (0–4), median (Q1-Q3)

3 (2–4)

3 (3–4)

3 (2–4)

 < 0.0012

 chair stand (0–4), median (Q1-Q3)

1 (1–1)

1 (1–1)

1 (1–1)

0.242

PEF mean (SD)

400 (119)

469 (116)

340 (85)

 < 0.0012

Grip strength mean (SD)

0.55 (0.18)

0.6 (0.15)

0.51 (0.19)

 < 0.0012

Vision (1–5) median (Q1-Q3)

2 (2–3)

2 (2–3)

2 (2–3)

4.762

 good/bad n (%)

275 (88)/36 (12)

127 (86)/20 (14)

148 (90)/16 (10)

 

Hearing (1–5) median (Q1-Q3)

3 (3–4)

3 (3–4)

4 (3–4)

0.0042

 good/bad, n (%)

271 (87)/40 (13)

119 (81)/28 (19)

152 (92)/12 (8)

 

Dizziness (1–3) median (Q1-Q3)

1 (1–3)

1 (1–2)

1 (1–3)

0.292

 None or mild/substantial, n (%)

217 (70)/95 (30)

98 (67)/49 (33)

119 (72)/46 (28)

 
  1. 1 χ2 2 Mann–Whitney U-test a highest life-space level obtained without any assistance b highest life-space level reached with help from equipment but not another person c maximal life-space level indicates the greatest distance travelled irrespective of assistance from equipment and/or another person