Path analysis of urinary incontinence in community living adults

Project Summary

This study will explore how factors, such as life stressors, social engagement, and chronic conditions, are related to urinary incontinence (UI). UI is when a person leaks urine by accident, affecting 3.5 million Canadians. Some studies have found UI is related to factors such as education and income. Learning more about these factors is important because incontinence can cause avoidance of daily activities and reduce quality of life. For older adults, it can cause falls or broken bones. The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) offers an opportunity to study UI. We will use CLSA data to estimate how common UI is in Canadians. We will see how factors related to UI directly or indirectly affect UI. Understanding how these factors are related to UI will help us to learn how to prevent and manage it.