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Cited by 42Elder Abuse and NeglectChild Abuse and TraumaAging, Elder Care, and Social Issues

Elder abuse in the oldest old: prevalence, risk factors and consequences

Open access
Brijoux, Thomas, Neise, Michael, Zank, Susanne·2021·Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie
DOI 10.1007/s00391-021-01945-0PMC PMC8551100
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Experiences of abuse in relationships with an expectation of trust are a common phenomenon among older people and is called elder abuse (EA). This can take various forms, such as physical, verbal, emotional, psychological, financial, sexual abuse or neglect. Due to their high vulnerability and difficulties in receiving support, people aged over 80 years old have been pointed out as a group that needs special focus in research. OBJECTIVE: Prevalence, risk factors and consequences of EA for different aspects of quality of life are explored among the oldest old. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Computer-assisted personal interviews were conducted in a representative sample of the oldest old in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany). 988 self-report interviews without third persons present of the NRW80+ study are used to assess EA with the help of the elder abuse and emotional consequences scale (EACS). The EACS describes EA in six dimensions that give a broad understanding of EA. RESULTS: Prevalence of experiences of EA within the last 12 months was 54.1%. In logistic regression, multimorbidity, lower functioning, age below 90 years, smaller social network size, and aggressive behaviorwere significant risk factors for EA. People experiencing EA showed less life satisfaction and autonomy and increased loneliness and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: EA is prevalent among the oldest old. Serious consequences of EA on life results can be shown with a broad operationalization of EA. Future research should focus on a deeper understanding of reasons for EA and reflect on the relationship between and the perspectives of perpetrators and victims.

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  • This study did not find an association between elder abuse/ill-treatment and loneliness among the oldest-old.

    “while this study did not find this association among the oldest-old.”

    From Factors associated with loneliness in a national study among persons 80 years and older in India in 2017-2018 (2025) · cites this paper as [3]

    The Discussion states the opposite: in the study's oldest-old sample, elder abuse was associated with increased loneliness, and the association was statistically significant. No page number is provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.94)

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2 of the 31 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [33]Yon Y Mikton CR Gassoumius ZD Wilber KH Lancet Glob Health 2017 10.1016/S2214-109X 28104184 · DOI

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Authors
Brijoux, T., Neise, M., & Zank, S.
Affiliations
University of Cologne (DE)
Corresponding author
Brijoux, Thomas
ORCID
Venue
Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-07-30
Volume
54
Issue
S2
Pages
132-137
ISSN
  • 0948-6704 (ISSN-L)
  • 1435-1269
DOI
10.1007/s00391-021-01945-0
PMC
PMC8551100
OpenAlex
W3185112433
Cited by
42
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3
FWCI
6.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Kölner Universitäts PublikationsServer (Universität zu Köln) (publishedVersion)
  • Informationszentrum Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Universität zu Köln
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Elder Abuse and Neglect
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
Keywords
elder abuse, oldest old, prevalence, risk factors, multimorbidity, social network size, loneliness, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, autonomy, quality of life, financial abuse, neglect, emotional impact
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aggression, Elder Abuse, Humans, Quality of Life, Risk Factors, Prevalence

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