Prevalence estimates and correlates of elder abuse in the United States: The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey

Abstract

This study examines the prevalence and correlates of psychological abuse and physical abuse against women and men aged 70 or older. Self-report data from 2,185 respondents in the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) were used to create weighted estimates for past-year experiences of abuse. Correlates were then examined using survey logistic regression models. More than 1 in 10 adults who are 70 years of age or older (14.0%) have experienced some form of abuse in the past year, with 12.1% experiencing psychological abuse and 1.7% experiencing physical abuse. One in five victims (20.8%) were abused by both intimate and nonintimate partners. Health care insecurity was the strongest correlate of past-year abuse. The odds of experiencing abuse were 4.53 times greater for those who experienced health care insecurity than for those who did not. This presents a significant challenge for identifying and helping victims of abuse.

Intimate Partner Violence in the Golden Age: Systematic Review of Risk and Protective Factors

“…However, Policastro and Finn ( 2017 ) acknowledge the heterogeneity of the prevalence data, mentioning, among many others, the study of Acierno et al ( 2009 ), who find that around 10% of the participant elders have experienced a form of abuse and/or neglect, and for over half of the physical mistreatment cases, the partners are reported as the perpetrators. In the sample recruited for their study, Rosay and Mulford ( 2017 ) show that 22.2% of the elderly victims reporting psychological abuse have been assaulted by an intimate partner and likewise for 27.4% reporting physical abuse.…”

Trauma Caused by Injury or Abuse in Late Life: Experiences, Impacts, and the Federal Response

“…For example, data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics show non-partner sexual assaults committed against adults ages 65 and older are reported 15.5 percent less frequently than sexual assaults committed against individuals ages 25-49 [14]. One estimate from researchers at the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) describes 0.7 percent of community-residing older adults ages 70 and older as reporting sexual abuse in the previous 12 months [34]. It should be noted that, like physical violence from an intimate partner in late life, sexual violence has been shown to aff ect older women at signifi cantly higher rates than older men [35].…”

“…Risk factors. Older women and men who experience IPV or sexual violence share many of the same characteristics as younger victims [36], but have an elevated risk profi le due to health and economic circumstances associated with aging, such as the onset of disease, disability, and poverty [34]. Common risk factors for IPV and sexual violence over 50 years include dependence on a caregiver (as a result of lifelong disability or age-related health decline, including dementia); social isolation (either greater risk for stranger or community violence as a result of living alone or heightened risk for abuse inside the home stemming from restricted contact with outside family and friends by a controlling partner or family member); and experiencing IPV or sexual violence earlier in the life course [37].…”

“…Common risk factors for IPV and sexual violence over 50 years include dependence on a caregiver (as a result of lifelong disability or age-related health decline, including dementia); social isolation (either greater risk for stranger or community violence as a result of living alone or heightened risk for abuse inside the home stemming from restricted contact with outside family and friends by a controlling partner or family member); and experiencing IPV or sexual violence earlier in the life course [37]. For example, of the older adults ages 70 and older surveyed by NIJ researchers, those who were romantically involved, had poor access to health care, and physical limitations had signifi cantly increased odds of experiencing abuse in the past year [34]. Furthermore, a signifi cant proportion of respondents reporting abuse shared the following risk profi le: 64 percent are women with 51 percent also being in a relationship; 58 percent lived at or below the poverty line; 37 percent reported housing insecurity; 22 percent reported food insecurity; and more than 20 percent reported health problems that required a specialized form of equipment, such as a wheelchair [34].…”

“…For example, of the older adults ages 70 and older surveyed by NIJ researchers, those who were romantically involved, had poor access to health care, and physical limitations had signifi cantly increased odds of experiencing abuse in the past year [34]. Furthermore, a signifi cant proportion of respondents reporting abuse shared the following risk profi le: 64 percent are women with 51 percent also being in a relationship; 58 percent lived at or below the poverty line; 37 percent reported housing insecurity; 22 percent reported food insecurity; and more than 20 percent reported health problems that required a specialized form of equipment, such as a wheelchair [34]. It is important to emphasize that older adults are not a homogenous group.…”