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The chronicity and severity of abuse among older persons by country: a European study

Joaquim J.F. Soares (Professor, based at Public Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden)
Silvia Fraga (Dr Silvia Fraga is a PhD, based at Department of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Porto Medical School, Porto, Portugal.)
Eija Viitasara (PhD, Senior Lecturer, based at Public Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden)
Mindaugas Stankunas (Professor, based at Department of Health Management, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania)
Örjan Sundin (Professor, based at Social Sciences – Psychology Östersund, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden)
Maria Gabriella Melchiorre (Senior Researcher – Gerontologist, based at Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Ancona, Italy)
Gloria Macassa (Associate Professor, based at Public Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden)
Henrique Barros (Full Professor, based at Medical School – Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal)

Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research

ISSN: 1759-6599

Publication date: 7 January 2014

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate chronicity (frequency) in different abuse types (e.g. psychological) and overall abuse (all abuse types) by severity (minor, severe, total) in seven European cities, and scrutinize factors associated with high chronicity levels (frequency on the median and higher) in psychological and overall abuse by severity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study design was cross-sectional. The sample consisted of 4,467 randomly selected women/men (2,559 women) aged 60-84 years from seven European cities, and data were analysed with bivariate and multivariate methods.

Findings

Chronicity varied across country and by abuse type. For instance, Germany had the highest chronicity means in physical and sexual abuse; Greece in physical, injury, sexual and overall abuse; Lithuania in physical, injury, financial and overall abuse; Portugal in physical abuse; Spain in physical, sexual and financial abuse; and Sweden in psychological, injury, financial and overall abuse. In general, Italy had the lowest chronicity means. The main perpetrators were people close to the respondents and women (in some cases).

Research limitations/implications

The independent relationship (regressions) between chronicity/severity of abuse, country and other variables (e.g. depression) was examined only for psychological and overall abuse. More research into this issue with other types of abuse (e.g. sexual) is warranted.

Originality/value

The paper reports data from the ABUEL survey, which gathered population-based data on elderly abuse.

Keywords

Citation

J.F. Soares, J., Fraga, S., Viitasara, E., Stankunas, M., Sundin, Ö., Gabriella Melchiorre, M., Macassa, G. and Barros, H. (2014), "The chronicity and severity of abuse among older persons by country: a European study", Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 3-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-06-2013-0015

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Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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