Vulnerability to fraud among Chinese older adults: do personality traits and loneliness matter?

This study examined correlates of the vulnerability to fraud among a group of urban Chinese older adults, focusing on the influence of personality traits and loneliness. A non-probability sample of 321 older participants recruited from six urban communities in Tianjin, China participated in a survey. Key measures included the Elder Risk for Fraud Scale, the short Big Five Inventory, and the Emotional-Social Loneliness Inventory. Regression analyses found that agreeableness personality was associated with lower risks for fraud while social loneliness was associated with higher risks for fraud. Older participants who needed medical assistance with their daily living were found at higher risks for fraud than their counterparts without medical needs. It is recommendded that policymakers and helping professionals in China should assess psychosocial risk factors for fraud. Great attention needs to be paid to older adults who demonstrate low levels of agreeableness and high levels of social loneliness.