Fear of Falling in the Dark: Energy Insecurity as a Contextual Factor in Fall-Related Fear in Rural Puerto Rico
Article
Padilla, Mark, Rodríguez-Madera, Sheilla, Varas-Díaz, Nelson et al. (2026). Fear of Falling in the Dark: Energy Insecurity as a Contextual Factor in Fall-Related Fear in Rural Puerto Rico
. 10.1093/rescon/vmag085
Padilla, Mark, Rodríguez-Madera, Sheilla, Varas-Díaz, Nelson et al. (2026). Fear of Falling in the Dark: Energy Insecurity as a Contextual Factor in Fall-Related Fear in Rural Puerto Rico
. 10.1093/rescon/vmag085
AbstractBackground and AimsRecurrent power outages in disaster-prone regions may intensify fear of falling (FOF) among older adults by transforming domestic environments into hazardous spaces. Although FOF has been widely studied within stable built environments, less attention has been paid to how infrastructural instability shapes its antecedents and attributes. Situated within established intrinsic–extrinsic fall-risk frameworks, this study examines how chronic energy insecurity influences the lived experience of FOF in rural Puerto Rico and explores whether solar energy access differentiates those experiences across access conditions.MethodsThis qualitative secondary analysis draws on 45 semi-structured interviews conducted with adults aged 50 and older living with chronic conditions in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. An analytic subsample (n = 33) included participants who explicitly referenced FOF, described blackout-related falls, or reported mobility restriction during outages. Narrative patterns were compared across three energy-access groups: direct solar access, indirect access, and no access.ResultsAll four established attributes of FOF—apprehension, unease, environmental vigilance, and concern about post-fall harm—were present and appeared intensified during blackouts. Darkness heightened awareness of physical vulnerability and prompted behavioural restriction. Participants with direct solar access described greater confidence navigating their homes during outages, whereas those with indirect or no access more frequently reported mobility limitation.ConclusionsEnergy insecurity constitutes an important environmental context influencing fall-related fear in disaster-prone settings. Rather than redefining the conceptual structure of FOF, our findings illustrate how established attributes operate under conditions of chronic blackouts. Integrating energy resilience into fall-prevention strategies may enhance safety and autonomy among older adults in climate-vulnerable regions.
