Frequency and Pattern of Elder Abuse among Older Adults in the Urban Area of Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Elder abuse is a phenomenon that has become more evident by increasing the older adults’ population, but there are insufficient evidence about the prevalence of elder abuse and its gender related pattern. In this study we aimed to investigate the prevalence of elder abuse and its’ pattern based on gender differences among elderly population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 414 older adults aged 60 years and over were recruited from health centers using randomized sampling method in Tabriz, Iran 2018. Data collection tools included demographic characteristics as well as tool for measuring elder abuse which were completed in the health centers through interview with older adult participants. Data were analyzed by using SPSS-22 software. Results: More than half of participants (52.6%) reported history of being abused by family members. Emotional neglect (26.6%) and financial abuse (17.6%) were the most common types of abuse, respectively. Physical abuse was reported as the lowest rate. The results also showed that except for the financial abuse domain, in the other domains older women were more being abused in comparison with men. Of the participants who were being abused, only 31.7% recognized that these type of behaviors are known as elderly abuse Conclusion: Older adults more likely experience various forms of abuse, especially emotional neglect and financial abuse, while the most of them do not consider these behaviors as elders’ abuse.