Rural-Urban Differences in the Prevalence and Correlates of Elder Mistreatment

Rural and urban areas differ in terms of age structure, health outcomes, and access to resources, but there is limited research on rural-urban differences in elder mistreatment. This study addresses that gap. We used data from Round 3 of the National Social Life, Health & Aging Project (NSHAP) survey (n = 2,333) to examine rural-urban differences in rates of 11 indicators of elder mistreatment, overall and by individual indicators. We conducted logistic regression models and generated predicted probabilities adjusting for sociodemographic and social well-being characteristics. Elder mistreatment was less common among rural than urban older adults (adjusted predicted probability 41.5% vs. 49.5%, P < 0.01). Rates were also higher for urban older adults for nearly every individual indicator of mistreatment. Rates of elder mistreatment were high (>40%) for both rural and urban older adults, but urban older adults faced a greater risk, requiring attention to urban risk and rural resilience.