Demographic-based risk of reporting psychopathology and poor health among mistreated older adults in the national elder mistreatment study wave II

Abstract

Objectives: Past year elder mistreatment rate is about 11% of community residing older adults, with significant demographic-based variations in prevalence. However, very little research on demographic variable-based differences in correlates of elder abuse, such as mental health, exist. The National Elder Mistreatment Study 8-year follow-up (NEMS II) specifically investigated the relation between demographic factors and the presence of these correlates (i.e. diagnoses of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and self-ratings of physical health).

Methods: The NEMS II used random digit dial telephone survey methodology to assess demographic variables and reports of depression PTSD, GAD, and poor health, in 774 older adults. RESULTS: a consistent association was observed between demographic factors related to financial status and poor mental and general health ratings.

Discussion: A subset of demographic factors associated with increased risk of reporting elder abuse, low income and financial distress, were also associated with increased risk of reporting correlates of elder abuse that included depression, PTSD GAD and poor health.

Keywords:

• Demographics
• psychopathology
• elder mistreatment
• race
• ethnicity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this research was provided by the Archstone Foundation (grant # 14-01-05) and the National Institute of Justice (grant # 2014-MU-CX-0003).