Cognitive Impairment as A Vulnerability for Exploitation: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Exploitation is a form of abuse involving manipulation for personal gain.
• Individual and social factors can increase vulnerability to exploitation.
• Cognitive impairment is an under-researched vulnerability factor.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review on cognitive impairment as a vulnerability factor for exploitation.
• To synthesize existing empirical research on this topic.

Main Methods:

• A six-step search strategy was employed across multiple databases and resources.
• Inclusion criteria focused on empirical studies published after 1998, in English, and related to cognitive impairment and exploitation.
• Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria.

Main Results:

• Sexual, financial, and criminal exploitation were reported.
• Intellectual disability and mental health conditions were the most common forms of cognitive impairment identified.
• Cognitive impairment was indicated as a factor increasing exploitation vulnerability.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive impairment is a significant vulnerability factor for exploitation.
• The current body of research is limited and disparate, hindering a full understanding of the complexities.
• Further research is needed to explore varying susceptibility to different exploitation types based on cognitive impairment.