Fear of Falling at Everyday Thresholds Among Older Nigerian Adults: An Interpretive Description

Abstract

This study examined how older Nigerian adults appraise and cope with fear of falling (FOF) and how local context and personality influence coping strategies and support preferences. Using Interpretive Description with reflexive thematic analysis, we analyzed qualitative interviews with 24 community-dwelling adults aged 60–75 in Abuja and Jos, located in North Central Nigeria. Three primary themes emerged from the qualitative narratives: (1) Living with Uncertainty as Place-Bound Appraisal, (2) Composure-In-Action: Turning Fear into Procedures and Meanings, and (3) Social Architectures of Safety: Co-Producing What One Body Cannot Do Alone. Fear was tied to specific situations rather than experienced as generalized anxiety. Rather than avoiding activity altogether, participants developed practical coping routines, such as pausing and concentrating on stairs, resting when dizziness occurs, and ensuring dry footing before stepping onto tiled surfaces. Many reframed fear as caution, drew on faith to set a steady state, and selected visible or discreet supports to protect dignity. Coping was co-produced with peers, clinicians, family members, and transport workers through groups, WhatsApp prompts, situated coaching, and real-time negotiation. Personality appeared to shape preferences for how support was delivered rather than acting as a fixed determinant of behavior. Findings provide African-based evidence relevant to Black aging scholarship and point to meso-level delivery models in Nigerian cities that protect mobility, dignity, and independence.