Where Do We Draw the Line? Perceptions of Abuse of Older Adults and Their Association With Ageism

Violence against older adults is a prevalent global harm, and there is evidence that perceptions of violence toward older adults may affect reporting and intervention. The present study examines the perception of violence against older adults in contrast to violence against other age groups and investigates the role of ageism in those perceptions.

A total of 290 participants were surveyed and asked to indicate whether they perceived 15 abusive behaviors reflecting physical, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse and neglect to be abuse toward either an older adult (age 60+), adult, or child. Ageism was measured using the Ambivalent Ageism scale.

On average, 25% of participants did not consider the abusive behaviors to be abuse. Perceptions of abuse were relatively stable across the 5 types of abuse examined (range: 25%-27%). Perceptions of the 15 abusive behaviors only varied due to older age in 3 instances, differences were sometimes between older adults and adults and sometimes children. Regression analyses showed increased ageism to be predictive of disagreement that behaviors were abusive in the older age group, explaining 8%-14% of the variance in perception. Regression models were not significant in the adult or child groups.

Results raise serious concern about the perception of abuse toward older adults. Future studies should investigate the reasons for such perceptions and other contributing factors in order to identify effective mechanisms for change.