Aim The present prospective study was carried out to determine whether participation in community‐based intervention studies exerted a positive impact on disability prevention in older adults with physical frailty. Methods A total of 514 community‐dwelling older adults (aged ≥65 years) with physical frailty who had undergone baseline assessment and participated in community‐based intervention studies (participants) or did not (non‐participants) were included in the present study. Non‐participants were selected through propensity score matching, to balance potential covariates at baseline. Disability incidence was followed up at 48 months as a main outcome. Demographic data (age, sex and medical history), global cognitive function, grip strength, walking speed, and blood test results including serum albumin and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor at baseline were included as covariates. Results Disability incidence rates differed significantly between participants (11.3%) and non‐participants (19.8%) of community‐based intervention studies during the 48‐month follow‐up period (P = 0.007). Participation in community‐based intervention studies (hazard ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.35–0.88) was significantly associated with the incidence of disability in older adults with physical frailty. Conclusions Participation in community‐based intervention studies could reduce the incidence of disability in older adults with physical frailty. Thus, strategies designed to increase the number of participants in community‐based intervention programs should be considered in community‐based approaches for the prevention of disability in older adults with physical frailty. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; ••: ••–••.