Development and psychometric properties of the Geriatric Mistreatment Scale

Elder mistreatment is a phenomenon that has increased proportionally to the increase in the number of older adults in different populations of the world. So far, in Mexico there is no instrument measuring and assessing this phenomenon. The objective of the present study was to develop and to know some psychometric properties of the Geriatric Mistreatment Scale (GMS).

A documentary and qualitative investigation was undertaken to contextualize the mistreatment phenomenon in Mexico. Each item was included in the preliminary version if it obtained 80% or greater agreement by experts (content validity). The preliminary scale (49-item) was applied to 626 older adults using a probabilistic sample representative of the older adults living in Mexico City. Then a statistical process was carried out to reduce the number of items, prove their internal consistency and associations with other measurements. The 22-item final version of the GMS that assesses physical, psychological, neglect, economic mistreatment and sexual abuse is reported herein.

The mean age of participants was 71.94 ± 8 years. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.83) was appropriate. Subject memory complaint, depression, functional dependence and other measurements were associated with overall mistreatment. Regarding prevalence, 10.28% reported having experienced at least one type of mistreatment.

The 22-item GMS had an acceptable internal consistency; the relationship with other measurements was significant according to the hypotheses. Therefore, the GMS is recommended for the screening of the five different types of elder mistreatment.