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Behavioural and psychological factors associated with pre-frailty in community-dwelling adults aged 40 and over: a cross-sectional study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Frailty and pre-frailty are major public health concerns. While frailty is typically associated with older adults, evidence suggests that pre-frailty commonly starts in middle-age. This study examined associations between behavioural and psychological correlates of pre-frailty and frailty in adults from 40 years to help identify at-risk individuals and inform interventions. Participants (N = 321, mean age = 56 (10.55), 83% female) completed questionnaires on frailty status, physical activity, co-morbidities, quality of life, loneliness, social isolation, and attitudes towards ageing. Participants were classified as non-frail (35%), pre-frail (60%), or frail (5%). One-way ANCOVAs, controlling for age, BMI, and co-morbidities, found that pre-frail participants reported feeling older than their chronological age (F = 2.37, p < .014, η2 = .398); and pre-frail and frail participants reported greater loneliness (F = 6.31, p = .022, η2 = .073) and negative attitudes toward ageing (F = 2.41, p = .004, η2 = .210) compared to non-frail participants. These findings indicate the need for targeted holistic interventions in middle age to prevent or delay frailty. This study highlights that feeling older than your actual age, loneliness, and negative attitudes toward ageing can signal early frailty, even in people as young as 40. These findings align with the World Health Organisation’s Decade of Healthy Ageing initiative, which emphasises the importance of fostering positive attitudes toward ageing to support healthy ageing outcomes. These insights stress the importance of mental health and maintaining social connections in ageing successfully. By recognising and addressing these early warning signs, communities and healthcare providers can implement targeted interventions to help people stay healthier for longer, potentially reducing healthcare costs and improving quality of life as our population ages.

Source: BMC Public Health

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-21957-4

Authors: Tom H. Brennan, Lucy K. Lewis, Susan J. Gordon, Ivanka Prichard

Institutions: Flinders University, Caring Futures Institute

Language: English

Topic: Frailty in Older Adults

Subfield: Geriatrics and Gerontology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,290