Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the latent profiles of fatalism among community-dwelling disabled elderly individuals and identify the key factors influencing these profiles. The findings will provide valuable insights for formulating tailored care management strategies for this population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey study. METHODS: A random sampling approach was used to survey disabled elderly individuals residing in 109 communities across eight urban districts in Sichuan Province. Data were collected through a general information questionnaire and a Fatalism Scale. Latent profile analysis was performed to identify distinct fatalism profiles, and multivariate unordered regression analysis was conducted to assess their influencing factors. RESULTS: Three distinct latent profiles of fatalism were identified: high fatalism and pessimism tendency (35.6%), moderate fatalism and low optimism tendency (9.6%), and low fatalism with relative optimism tendency (54.8%). Multivariate analysis revealed that living arrangements, number of children, educational level, duration of disability, and self-reported economic stress were significant factors influencing these fatalism profiles. CONCLUSION: There is significant heterogeneity in fatalism among community-dwelling disabled elderly individuals. Caregivers and healthcare managers can develop more precise and personalized management strategies by considering the different latent profiles and their associated influencing factors.