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Kong J, Moorman SM, Qin Y. Lifetime Abuse Victimization and Prospective Health Outcomes in Older Adults. J Appl Gerontol 2024; 43:990-996. [PMID: 38350889 PMCID: PMC11166519 DOI: 10.1177/07334648231225377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The current study examined the associations between lifetime abuse victimization and prospective health outcomes in late adulthood. Methods: Data from 4907 older adults (mean age = 80) from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study were analyzed. Multivariate analyses examined the associations of lifetime abuse victimization with depression, physical health status, and memory. Results: Greater exposure to lifetime abuse was associated with a significantly higher risk of depression (OR = 1.13, CI: [1.08, 1.19], p < .001) and a greater number of limitations in physical functioning (b = .08, SE = .02, p < .001), but not with memory performance (b = .01, SE = .14, p > .05). Discussion: Our results support the interrelations of interpersonal violence across the life course and the lasting health effects of exposure to lifetime abuse. Findings highlight the need for a life course-based, trauma-informed approach in prevention and intervention programs for older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jooyoung Kong
- Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sara M. Moorman
- Department of Sociology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Yue Qin
- Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Band-Winterstein T, Shulyaev K, Eisikovits Z. Is lifetime abuse forgivable in old age? J Elder Abuse Negl 2024; 36:198-225. [PMID: 38379201 DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2024.2319785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Old age is characterized by reflection and a retrospective examination of the multiple meanings of various life experiences, including lifelong abuse. Forgiveness is found to have a salutary effect, especially for older adults. To understand the place and role of forgiveness in the reflective process during aging, we performed a secondary analysis of in-depth, semi-structured interviews (N = 78) with older women survivors of abuse. Inductive thematic analysis was based on concepts developed deductively from the literature review. The findings include three main themes: (1) The dimensions of forgiving: The victim as subject; (2) Being forgiven: Between lost forgiveness and hope; and (3) Self-forgiveness and the aging self. Despite the known salutary effect of forgiveness, we must consider that this is not a universally desirable process. We included the dimension of forgiveness in the study of abuse throughout the older person's life course and identified further complexities in addition to the "forgiveness"/"unforgiveness."
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Affiliation(s)
- Tova Band-Winterstein
- The Minerva Centre on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA), Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ksenya Shulyaev
- The Minerva Centre on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA), Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Center of Research & Study of Aging (CRCA), Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Zvi Eisikovits
- The Minerva Centre on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA), Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Centre for the Study of Society, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Marzbani B, Ayubi E, Barati M, Sahrai P. The relationship between social support and dimensions of elder maltreatment: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:869. [PMID: 38110874 PMCID: PMC10726566 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04541-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Many studies have investigated the relationship between social support and the prevention of elder abuse; however, their results are somehow inconsistent in terms of the association. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the published studies on the relationship between social support and the prevention of elder maltreatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS An electronic search was conducted until January 2023, using such databases as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The present research included cross-sectional, longitudinal, and case-control studies. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted by two researchers independently. The Newcastle-Ottawa checklist was utilized to evaluate the quality of studies. The random effects model was employed to perform a meta-analysis. RESULTS In total, 32 studies were included in this systematic review, out of which 26 articles were eligible for meta-analysis. The results showed that 68.75% of the studies were of high quality, and there is a significant relationship between social support and elder maltreatment. Accordingly, the lack of social support increased overall maltreatment (odds ratio: 1.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.16-1.33; I2 = 92.3%, p = 0.000)). Moreover, lack of social support had an increasing effect on the level of psychological abuse (1.55, 1.18-2.04; 88.7%, p = 0.000), physical abuse (1.31, 0.42-4.11; 76.3%, p = 0.005), and neglect (2.02, 0.86-4.72; 87.9%, p = 0.000), which shows heterogeneities among the results of the included studies. On the contrary, the lack of social support showed a decreasing effect on financial abuse (0.92, 0.70-1.21; 62.1%, p = 0.022). CONCLUSION This systematic review provides evidence that social support in the form of structural or functional support may plays an important role in improving the quality of life of the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnaz Marzbani
- Department of Public Health, School of health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Erfan Ayubi
- Cancer Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Majid Barati
- Department of Public Health, School of Health, Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, 6517838695, Iran.
| | - Parvaneh Sahrai
- Department of Public Health, School of health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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Bolkan C, Teaster PB, Ramsey-Klawsnik H. The Context of Elder Maltreatment: an Opportunity for Prevention Science. PREVENTION SCIENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION RESEARCH 2023; 24:911-925. [PMID: 37145180 PMCID: PMC10161185 DOI: 10.1007/s11121-022-01470-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Elder maltreatment (EM) has been understood as a worldwide major public health threat for decades, yet it remains a form of victimization receiving limited attention, resources, and research. EM, which includes caregiver neglect and self-neglect, has far-reaching and long-lasting impacts on older adults, their families, and communities. Rigorous prevention and intervention research has significantly lagged in proportion to the magnitude of this problem. With rapidly growing population aging, the coming decade will be transformative: by 2030, one in six people worldwide will be aged 60 or older, and approximately 16% will experience at least one form of maltreatment (World Health Organization, 2021). The goal of this paper is to raise awareness of the context and complexities of EM, provide an overview of current intervention strategies based on a scoping review, and discuss opportunities for further prevention research, practice, and policy within an ecological model applicable to EM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory Bolkan
- Washington State University, Vancouver, USA.
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5
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Chen XY, Wang D, Liu X, Shi X, Scherffius A, Fan F. Cumulative stressful events and mental health in young adults after 10 years of Wenchuan earthquake: the role of social support. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2189399. [PMID: 36942927 PMCID: PMC10035950 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2189399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACTBackground: After a natural disaster, stressful events often continue to accumulate, affecting individuals in a different manner than the original disaster never occurred. However, few studies have examined these associations, the cumulative impacts of stressful events on mental health outcomes, and the role of social support. This study examined the prospective association between cumulative stressful events and mental health problems and the role of social support in young adults.Methods: 695 participants provided available data on earthquake exposure, childhood maltreatment, other negative life events, and social support at baseline. Depressive symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder were assessed at baseline and 10 years after the earthquake (T10y). A cumulative stressful events index was used to evaluate the levels of cumulative stressful events. Linear regressions were used to explore the predictive effects.Results: Of 695 participants, 41.3%, 28.5%, and 7.9% reported one, two, and three stressful events, respectively. The associations between cumulative stressful events and mental health problems at T10y presented a dose-response pattern: those who experienced three events had the highest risk of mental health problems, followed by those who experienced two events and those who reported one event. Additionally, higher social support partially reduced the negative impact of cumulative stressful events on mental health.Conclusions: Cumulative stressful events are associated with mental health problems 10 years later in young earthquake survivors. Social support could reduce the negative impact, but its protective role disappears when stressful events accumulate at the highest level. These findings highlight the importance of assessing the cumulative impacts of stressful events and social support available to young disaster survivors and intervening to prevent worse mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yan Chen
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongfang Wang
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianchen Liu
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xuliang Shi
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, People's Republic of China
| | - Andrew Scherffius
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Fang Fan
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Sokar S, Greenbaum CW, Haj-Yahia MM. Exposure to Parental Violence During Childhood and Later Psychological Distress Among Arab Adults in Israel: The Role of Gender and Sense of Coherence. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023; 38:NP588-NP612. [PMID: 35354327 PMCID: PMC9709551 DOI: 10.1177/08862605221082741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to parental violence in childhood is a significant predictor of psychological distress in adulthood. Factors at the individual level may explain the variance in psychological distress among adults exposed to parental violence. The current study examined the effect of exposure to different forms (i.e., physical violence and psychological aggression) and different patterns of parental violence (i.e., witnessing interparental violence, experiencing parental violence) on later psychological distress. The mediating role of sense of coherence (SOC) and the moderating role of gender in this relationship were also examined. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 604 married Arab adults in Israel (age = 20-60, M = 33.5, SD = 6.52) using a retrospective, self-administered questionnaire. Results indicate a significant positive relationship between all forms and types of parental violence explored in the current study with levels of psychological distress. Furthermore, exposure to parental violence correlated negatively with SOC, and low levels of SOC predicted higher levels of psychological distress. SOC was found to partially mediate the relationship between exposure to parental violence and psychological distress. Gender differences were found only with regard to experiencing physical violence as a predictor of psychological distress, indicating that the relationship between these variables is stronger in females. These results highlight the importance of SOC as a personal resource and its role in promoting psychological wellbeing. Healthcare practitioners should be aware of possible gender differences in psychological distress among Arab adults exposed to parental violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shireen Sokar
- School of Social Work and Social
Welfare, The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Israel
| | | | - Muhammad M. Haj-Yahia
- School of Social Work and Social
Welfare, The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Israel
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Elder abuse and life-course victimization in hospitalized older adults in Sweden: prevalence and associations with mental ill-health. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:929. [PMID: 36460947 PMCID: PMC9716666 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03638-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of elder abuse has only rarely been investigated in Sweden and never in a hospital setting. Therefore, the aims of this study were to: 1) Estimate the prevalence of elder abuse and life-course victimization among hospitalized older adults in Sweden, 2) Explore factors associated with elder abuse in the same sample, and 3) Explore the associations between life-course victimization and mental ill-health. METHODS The study was conducted at a university hospital in Sweden. Adults over the age of 65 years admitted to a medical or geriatric acute care ward during spring 2018 were consecutively recruited. The participant rate was 44% (n = 135/306). Participants were assessed via a face-to-face interview about their experiences of elder abuse and abuse earlier in life. Mental ill-health was measured using a self-administered depression assessment (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), along with information about medications and diagnoses retrieved from medical records. RESULTS Altogether, 40.7% (n = 55) of the participants reported some form of abusive experience during their life course. The prevalence of elder abuse was 17.8% (n = 24), and 58% (n = 14) of elder abuse victims also reported victimization earlier in life. Being abused before the age of 65 was the only background factor associated with elder abuse (OR = 5.4; 95% CI 1.9-15.7). Reporting abusive experiences both before and after the age of 65 was associated with current anti-depressant medication (OR = 6.6; 95% CI 1.1-39.2), a PHQ-9 result of 10 or more (OR = 10.4; 95% CI 2.1-51.0), and nine or more symptom diagnoses (OR = 4.0, 95% CI 1.0-16.1). Being abused only before or after the age of 65 was not significantly associated with any mental ill-health outcome measure. CONCLUSIONS Elder abuse and victimization earlier in life are highly prevalent among hospitalized older patients, and our findings underline the importance of a life-course perspective both in research on elder abuse and in clinical practice. Identifying and caring for older adults who have been subjected to abuse should be a priority in health care.
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Paek MS, Lee MJ, Shin YS. Elder Mistreatment as a Risk Factor for Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Korean Older Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11165. [PMID: 36141438 PMCID: PMC9517653 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Older adults suffering from mistreatment are especially vulnerable to adverse health outcomes. The current study examined the associations of elder mistreatment (single- and multi-type mistreatment) with depression or suicidal ideation in a Korean representative sample. The data were derived from the 2017 National Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Persons (unweighted n = 10,059 and weighted n = 10,055). Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. In the weighted population, 9.8% of older adults had mistreatment experiences. Results indicated that single- and multi-type mistreatment experiences were associated with increased risks of depression (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = [1.61, 2.32] and OR = 3.51, 95% CI = [2.52, 4.87], respectively), after adjusting for the confounding factors (socio-demographic, health-related, and social relation characteristics). Experiences of single- and multi-type mistreatment were also associated with suicidal ideation (OR = 2.48, 95% CI = [1.97, 3.12] and OR = 3.19, 95% CI = [2.25, 4.51], respectively), even after adjusting for the above confounding factors and depression. Similar results were found in sensitivity analyses using unweighted data. The current findings expanded our knowledge of the associations of mistreatment with depression and suicidal ideation in later life.
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Simmons J, Wiklund N, Ludvigsson M. Managing abusive experiences: a qualitative study among older adults in Sweden. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:456. [PMID: 35619083 PMCID: PMC9137123 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03143-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Elder abuse is prevalent, and is associated with poor health outcomes. How an older adult is affected by abusive experiences is dependent on myriad factors, including aspects of the abuse itself, other life circumstances, coping strategies, and what kind of help the older adults receive to manage the experience. In this study, we sought to investigate how older adults themselves describe how they manage abusive experiences. An increased understanding of this could help to tailor society’s response to older adults suffering from abuse. Method Participants (n = 30) were recruited from patients admitted to one acute geriatric and one acute internal medicine ward at a university hospital in Sweden. Patients over the age of 65 who reported experiences of elder abuse or who reported that they were still suffering from abuse that had occurred earlier in life were included. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results The analysis resulted in five themes, three pertaining to strategies used to manage abusive experiences (self-reliant coping, restoring dignity in relation to others, and needing formal and informal help) and two pertaining to the disclosure process (inner resistance to disclosure, and external barriers and facilitators for disclosure). Conclusion Older adults were found to use a combination of different strategies to manage abusive experiences. Some were self-reliant, but older adults often managed their experiences with the help of others. Health care professionals were generally in a position to facilitate disclosure, but some participants reported poor encounters with health care. The findings indicate a need to facilitate disclosure by, for example, training professionals on issues related to elder abuse and developing more easily navigated response systems that can respond to the complex needs of older adults trying to manage abusive experiences. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03143-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Simmons
- Department of Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Nicolina Wiklund
- Department of Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mikael Ludvigsson
- Department of Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Psychiatry in Linköping, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Alharbi FS, Aljemaiah AI, Osman M. Validation of the factor structure and psychometric characteristics of the Arabic adaptation of the sense of coherence SOC-13 scale: a confirmatory factor analysis. BMC Psychol 2022; 10:115. [PMID: 35505411 PMCID: PMC9066761 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-022-00826-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sense of coherence is as focused on one's awareness of the level of pervasive, enduring, and dynamic feelings. Stronger sense of coherence leads to better physical and mental health and promotes recovery from life stressors. Sense of coherence-13 (SOC-13) is a 13-item valid and reliable measure for individual's healthy living. However, the factor structure of SOC-13 was criticized in several cultures and languages. The current study was set to explore the factor structure of an Arabic adaptation for SOC-13. METHODS This cross-sectional study of the SOC-13 included (n = 1235) Arabic speaking individuals. We used confirmatory factor analysis to contrast unidimensional, bidimensional, three-dimensional, and four-dimensional factor structure for the SOC-13. We carried out measurement invariance analysis across age and gender groups to examine the stability of fit indices among participants' subgroups. RESULTS We found the reliability coefficient to be 0.82, indicative of good internal consistency. The three-factor structure, after modification of items 1, 2, and 3 was the best-fitting factor model. However, measurement invariance was indicative of discrepancy for the three-factor model between genders and age classes. The mean overall SOC-13 total score in our sample was 52.1 (SD = 16.1). CONCLUSIONS The SOC-13 showed acceptable psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency and a modified three-factor structure in its Arabic version. However, the reliability of the three underlying dimensions was sub-optimum. Moreover, the three-factor structure requires modification by either removing the first three problematic items or allowing the residuals to correlate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatimah Sayer Alharbi
- Department of Psychology, College of Education, Nourah's Health Program, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, PO Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz I Aljemaiah
- Armed Forces Centre for Psychiatric Care, Prince Mansour Military Hospital, Al-Matar Street, Al-Faiysaliyah District, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mugtaba Osman
- Armed Forces Centre for Psychiatric Care, Prince Mansour Military Hospital, Al-Matar Street, Al-Faiysaliyah District, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
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Ludvigsson M, Wiklund N, Swahnberg K, Simmons J. Experiences of elder abuse: a qualitative study among victims in Sweden. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:256. [PMID: 35351038 PMCID: PMC8962107 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-02933-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Elder abuse is underreported and undertreated. Methods for prevention and intervention are being developed, but the knowledge guiding such measures is often insufficiently based on the victims’ own voices due to a paucity of studies. The aim of this study was therefore to explore experiences of elder abuse among the victims themselves.
Methods
Consecutive inpatients ≥ 65 years of age at a hospital clinic in Sweden were invited to participate, and 24 victims of elder abuse were identified. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted, and transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Results
The analysis generated four themes that together give a comprehensive picture of elder abuse from the participants’ subjective perspectives. The participants’ experiences of abuse were similar to previous third-party descriptions of elder abuse and to descriptions of abuse among younger adults, but certain aspects were substantially different. Vulnerability due to aging and diseases led to dependance on others and reduced autonomy. Rich descriptions were conveyed of neglect, psychological abuse, and other types of abuse in the contexts of both care services and family relations.
Conclusions
Elder abuse is often associated with an individual vulnerability mix of the aging body, illnesses, and help dependence in connection with dysfunctional surroundings. As individual differences of vulnerability, exposure to violence, and associated consequences were so clear, this implies that components of prevention and intervention should be individually tailored to match the needs and preferences of older victims.
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Motamedi A, Ludvigsson M, Simmons J. Factors associated with health care providers speaking with older patients about being subjected to abuse. J Elder Abuse Negl 2021; 34:20-37. [PMID: 34895081 DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2021.2014378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Health care providers have difficulties responding to elder abuse. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with health care providers speaking with older patients about being subjected to abuse, and what facilitating measures staff preferred to help them achieve this. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among hospital health care providers (n = 154) in Sweden. Half of the respondents had experience of speaking about elder abuse. A high sense of professional responsibility (OR 3.23) and being less concerned about inflicting damage to the therapeutic relationship (OR 3.97) were associated with having spoken with older patients about being subjected to abuse. Written guidelines about elder abuse and a patient information sheet were the most preferred facilitating measures. Our findings indicate that increasing care providers' sense of responsibility and addressing concerns about damaging the therapeutic relationship might be important factors to target in future interventions to improve health care response to elder abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atbin Motamedi
- Department of Emergency Medicine in Norrköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mikael Ludvigsson
- Department of Psychiatry in Linköping, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Simmons
- Department of Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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