Mortality Risk Associated with Physical and Verbal Abuse in Women Aged 50 to 79

Abstract

Community-dwelling middle-aged and older women who reported prior-year physical, verbal, or both types of abuse had significantly higher adjusted mortality risk than women who did not report abuse. These findings highlight the need for longitudinal research into prevention of abuse in later life and accompanying excess mortality and emphasize the importance of abuse prevention in later life.

Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Risk of Physical Impairment in a Cohort of Postmenopausal Women Who Experience Physical and Verbal Abuse

“…Based on their answers women were categorized into one of four groups: (1) No abuse, (2) verbal abuse only, (3) physical abuse only, and (4) verbal and physical abuse. This conceptualization of abuse exposure is consistent with previous studies conducted using data from the WHI [21,29].…”

“…Linkages between verbal and physical abuse exposure, and increased risk of all-cause mortality among older women, have been reported in several prior studies [21,22], as has evidence of bi-directional relationships between verbal and physical abuse exposure and diminished physical and mental health [29]. A bi-directional relationship between abuse exposure and diminished physical functioning in older women [36][37][38] has also been proposed, with some prior work characterizing physical functioning as an important risk factor for verbal and/or physical abuse in this population [36][37][38], and other work suggesting that abuse among older women may degrade physical functioning, ultimately leading to disability [22].…”

“…While the disproportionate risk of young women (e.g., of childbearing age), particularly those who are pregnant, is well documented [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16], a growing empirical literature also characterizes the significant prevalence and public health implications of interpersonal abuse exposure, including verbal, physical or sexual abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, among older, post-menopausal women [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. For example, Zink et al [33] conducted a telephone survey investigating prevalence of abuse exposure among more than 3500 women over age 55.…”

Intimate Partner Violence in Older Women in Spain: Prevalence, Health Consequences, and Service Utilization

“…Literature documents that enduring psychological abuse is a much stronger predictor of fear than physical abuse (Baker et al, 2009) and it is associated with poorer physical and mental health, as well as a limitation in social functioning (Shugarman et al, 2003). These negative health consequences could explain why women with long lasting psychological IPV are higher users of the most accessible services such as primary healthcare and emergency rooms.…”

Changes in Conflict Resolution Style over Time: The Risk for Persons with Alzheimer’s Dementia

“…It includes categories such as physical abuse, which includes any acts of violence that may result in pain, injury, impairment or disease [2], psychological or verbal mistreatment, which refers to the use of verbal assaults, insults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, and harassment, or any treatment that results in emotional or mental anguish to the recipient, and neglect, "the failure of responsible party(ies) to act so as to provide, or to provide what is prudently deemed adequate and reasonable assistance that is available and warranted to ensure that the older adult's basic physical, psychological, social and financial needs are met, resulting in harmful effects for the older adult" [3]. Elder mistreatment has been linked to health problems such as immunological dysfunction [4][5][6][7][8][9], and increased mortality [10,11]. It results in emotional difficulties such as decreased self-esteem [4,8,[12][13][14], depression [7,9,[15][16][17] feelings of inadequacy, and self-contempt [13,14].…”