Relationship Quality Trajectories and Financial Abuse Among Older Adults

Financial abuse is a prevalent yet underreported form of elder abuse with serious health and economic consequences. Prior research has linked poor relationship quality to financial abuse risk, but most studies rely on cross-sectional designs and focus on a single relationship type. This study examined whether 10-year changes in relationship quality with spouses, family, and friends are associated with subsequent financial abuse.

Guided by social exchange theory, this study used data from three waves of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Relationship quality was categorized as stable, improving, or worsening over a 10-year period. Logistic regression models were estimated for each relationship type, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics.

Older adults with worsening family or friendship relationships over the 10-year period had more than twice the odds of experiencing subsequent financial abuse compared with those with stable relationships. Improving relationship trajectories were not significantly associated with financial abuse risk. Changes in spousal relationship quality were also not significantly associated with financial abuse.

These findings suggest that worsening family and friendship relationships over time may be an early indicator of financial abuse risk. Monitoring changes in older adults' social relationships and supporting relationship stability may be important strategies for preventing financial abuse in later life.