The Association Between Past Sexual Abuse and Depression in Older Adults From Colombia

Abstract

To explore the association between past sexual abuse and depression in elders living in Bogotá, Colombia, we used data from the SABE (Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento [Health, Well-being, and Aging]) Bogotá Study. Participants were 2000 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older in 2012. Sexual abuse was assessed by self-report. Depression was measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale. The weighted prevalence estimate was 2.6% for past sexual abuse and 23.4% for depression. Multivariate data analyses showed significantly higher odds of depression for past sexual abuse (odds ratio [OR] = 3.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.13-7.16). Other characteristics associated with depression were history of being displaced by violence (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.30-2.40), low socioeconomic status, low education, poor self-rated health status, and poor self-rated memory. Thus, past sexual abuse and history of being displaced by violence were strongly associated with depression among Colombian elderly individuals.

Reply to: The Interplay between Experiences of Abuse, Physical Activity, and Falls in Older Adults

“…However, in multivariate analyses, the association of a low level of physical activity lost its significance (for any falling: OR = 1.18; 95% CI = 0.89‐1.55; p = .25; for recurrent falling: OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 0.84‐1.71; p = .32) after adjusting for age, depression, psychotropics, comorbidities, and victimization that consisted of two or more types of abuse. Interestingly, depression and comorbidities, which are confounders for physical activity as risk factors for falls in our sample, were also associated with a history of lifetime abuse in other studies …”

<p>Anxiety and depression in women with and without chronic pelvic pain: prevalence and associated factors</p>

“…Physical and sexual abuse were found to be associated with anxiety, depression and MADD in both the unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Other studies, however, have reported conflicting findings regarding these associations 14–16,18,30. Some authors identified an association between sexual abuse and anxiety and depression 18,30.…”

“…Other studies, however, have reported conflicting findings regarding these associations 14–16,18,30. Some authors identified an association between sexual abuse and anxiety and depression 18,30. Others have described an association between physical and sexual abuse and impaired mental health 14,15.…”

Association Between History of Abuse and Falling in Older Adults

“…7 Elder abuse victimization has psychological and physical consequences by increasing mortality, emergency department use, hospitalization, and nursing home placement. 8,9 The Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento (SABE; Health, Well-being and Aging) Bogot a Study presents an opportunity to evaluate the association between abuse and falling in a large Hispanic population. 9,10 There are few studies on abuse of elderly Hispanic adults.…”

“…8,9 The Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento (SABE; Health, Well-being and Aging) Bogot a Study presents an opportunity to evaluate the association between abuse and falling in a large Hispanic population. 9,10 There are few studies on abuse of elderly Hispanic adults. Hispanic elder abuse in the community accounted for 36.8% of confirmed cases reported to Adult Protective Services in Texas from 1991 to 1995.…”