The Relationship Between Depression and Violence Risk Predictors on Elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the correlation between the elderly with depressive symptomatology and the predictors of the risk of violence against them. The method used was a quantitative approach using the Statistical Package program for Social Sciences. There was a participation of 237 elderly people aged 65-96 years, of the project “Aging in Safety in Alentejo-Understanding to Act”, at the University of Évora. The Geriatric Depression Scale and the Predictors of Risk of Violence (an adaptation of the Elder Abuse and Neglect-Risk Assessment Tool and Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale) were applied. About the results, 50 elderly (21.1%) had mild depressive symptomatology, and 14 (5.9%) had severe depressive symptomatology. Of the 64 elderly individuals who presented depressive symptomatology 55 were female. In the relationship between the severity of depressive symptomatology and predictors of risk of violence, significant results were found in three dimensions: current supports and relationships, family context and cognitive/emotional difficulties. The main conclusion of the study is that factors like no social support networks, complex family context and cognitive and emotional changes, contribute to greater physical and mental vulnerability of the elderly, resulting in cases of anxiety and stress, which present a depressive symptomatology and the risk of violence.

Risk of violence and frailty syndrome among older adults treated at a hospital service

“…Low social support, i.e., the lack of anyone to talk to or solve problems with, which are essential aspects to conquer and maintain a support network that contributes positively to psychological and social well-being, predisposes older adults to isolation and, consequently, frailty, which may also be due to the violence suffered. From this scenario, older adults become more susceptible to developing feelings of anguish and sadness, which in turn are included in factors that increase vulnerability and the risk of suffering violence ( 23 , 30 , 32 - 33 ) .…”

Risco de violência e síndrome da fragilidade entre idosos atendidos em serviço hospitalar

“…O baixo apoio social, ou seja, a falta de ter com quem contar, conversar ou resolver problemas, que são aspectos essenciais para conquistar e manter uma rede de apoio que contribui positivamente para o bem-estar psicológico e social, predispõe o idoso ao isolamento social e, consequentemente, à fragilidade, podendo ser também em decorrência da própria violência sofrida. A partir desse cenário, o idoso se torna mais suscetível a desenvolver sentimentos de angústia e tristeza que, por sua vez, incluem-se em fatores que aumentam a vulnerabilidade e o risco de sofrer violência (23,30,(32)(33) . Já em relação ao esquecimento de tomar as medicações, percebe-se uma tendência, ao avançar da idade, à perda de memória, fazendo com que idosos que não tomam as medicações de forma correta comprometam ainda mais sua saúde, em detrimento do agravamento das doenças que, geralmente, são acometidos.…”