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Elder mistreatment in urban India: a community based study.
Srinivasan Chokkanathan1, Alex E Y Lee
1Department of Social Work, National University of Singapore, Singapore. srinivasan.chokkanathan@gmail.com
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect
|April 14, 2006
Summary
Elder mistreatment affects 14% of older adults in Chennai, India, with verbal abuse being most common. Women experienced more abuse, and mistreated individuals reported higher depression rates.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Elder mistreatment is a significant global issue impacting older adults' well-being.
- Understanding the prevalence and correlates of elder mistreatment is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Community-dwelling older adults in India face unique socio-cultural contexts that may influence mistreatment dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and types of elder mistreatment in a community-dwelling population in Chennai, India.
- To identify demographic and psychosocial factors associated with elder mistreatment.
- To explore the relationship between mistreatment and mental health outcomes like depression and life satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 400 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and above in Chennai, India.
- Data collection likely included surveys or interviews to assess mistreatment experiences, perpetrator identification, and mental health indicators.
- Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify significant correlates of elder mistreatment.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of elder mistreatment was 14%, with chronic verbal abuse being the most frequent form.
- Physical abuse and neglect rates were similar, while financial abuse also occurred. Half of mistreated individuals experienced multifaceted mistreatment.
- Women were significantly more likely to experience verbal abuse, physical abuse, and neglect compared to men. Adult children, daughters-in-law, spouses, and sons-in-law were identified as common perpetrators.
Conclusions:
- Elder mistreatment is a prevalent issue in Chennai, India, disproportionately affecting women.
- Mistreatment is linked to negative mental health outcomes, including increased depression and decreased life satisfaction.
- Gender, social support, and perceived physical health are significant factors associated with elder mistreatment, highlighting areas for intervention.