Citation

Sood R, Novotny P, Faubion SS, Thielen JM, Shuster LT, Kuhle CL, Kapoor E, Marnach M, Barrette B, Jatoi A. Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr. 2016; 66: 62-65.

Affiliation

Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States. Electronic address: jatoi.aminah@mayo.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.archger.2016.05.002

PMID

27255349

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Several studies describe "elder abuse" among residents of nursing homes, but this issue is less well studied among independently functioning, community-based women. The current study was undertaken to report rates of self-reported intimate partner violence - with a focus on verbal abuse - among older women within a private tertiary women's health clinic.

METHODS: This study focused on women who completed a questionnaire on domestic abuse.

RESULTS: A total of 1389 women with a median age of 55 years (range: 50, 90) are the focus of this report. Most 1102 (79%) were married. Within this group, 100 (7%) women reported verbal abuse within the last year. Rates of physical and sexual abuse were much lower with 9 women (1%) and 2 (<1%), respectively. In univariate analyses, being divorced, being an alcoholic, and having suffered prior abuse were associated with reported verbal abuse. In multivariate analyses, self-reported alcoholism and physical abuse were independently associated with reported verbal abuse.

CONCLUSION: This study found a notable rate of patient-reported verbal abuse in older women within a private, tertiary women's health clinic. IMPLICATIONS: This observation should prompt healthcare providers to ask about intimate partner violence - and specifically verbal abuse - regardless of healthcare setting.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en