Associations of Cognitive Impairment and Physical Prefrailty with Occupational Dysfunction in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Accounting for Depressive Tendencies

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined the associations of cognitive impairment and physical prefrailty (PPF) with occupational dysfunction among community-dwelling older adults, adjusting for depressive tendencies. Data from 105 participants were analyzed using two-way ANCOVA. No interaction effects were observed. PPF showed a significant main effect on occupational imbalance. When the Geriatric Depression Scale score was excluded as a covariate, cognitive prefrailty (CPF) was associated with higher occupational deprivation. These findings suggest that depressive tendencies may confound the association between CPF and occupational deprivation, highlighting the importance of comprehensive preventive interventions addressing physical, cognitive, and psychological factors in early frailty stages.