Citation

Badenes-Ribera L, Fabris MA, Longobardi C. Int. J. Aging Hum. Dev. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Baywood Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0091415019875454

PMID

31526137

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of elder mistreatment (EM) in an Italian population and to determine the risk factors. The sample consisted of 393 older adults (Mage = 77.07; standard deviation = 9.45) of whom 60.1% were females. The prevalence of EM was of 20.1%. Older elders who were separated, divorced, with a poor state of health, and problems of autonomy were more likely to experience EM. The most common forms of EM were physical/sexual (9.9%) and emotional mistreatment (9.9%). The most common perpetrators were paid caregivers and members of the victim’s family. A path analysis model suggested that limited autonomy and poor perceived health status appeared to be predictors of EM. We conclude that the results of this study have important implications in terms of reducing mistreatment of older adults. Understanding EM is essential to promoting equality, tolerance, and supportive attitudes and developing better prevention policies and practices.

Keywords: elder mistreatment, interpersonal violence, prevalence, correlates, cross-sectional study, elder abuse

Language: en

Keywords

correlates; cross-sectional study; elder abuse; elder mistreatment; interpersonal violence; prevalence