Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Intimate partner violence against older women in Germany: prevalence and associated factors
- Authors:
- STÖCKL Heidi, WATTS Charlotte, PENHALE Bridget
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(13), September 2012, pp.2545-2564.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Intimate partner violence (IPV) has significant adverse physical and psychological health outcomes, especially among older women. To develop appropriate and effective IPV interventions targeting older women, more needs to be known about its prevalence and the factors associated with increased risk. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and factors associated with physical and sexual violence against older women. Data were drawn from a national survey ‘Health, Well-Being and Personal Safety of Women in Germany’ conducted in 2003. This survey consisted of 10,264 female respondents between the age of 16 and 86 years; this analysis looks separately at women aged 50 to 65 and 66 to 86 years at the time of the survey. The findings showed that the prevalence of violence in women’s current relationships was 12% and 5%, respectively. In both age groups, women who had experienced violence during childhood and nonpartner physical or sexual violence after the age of 16 had higher odds of experiencing current partner violence. Current partner violence was associated only with women and their partner’s level of education and women’s vocational training among women aged 66 to 86 years. Relationships where one or both partners drank heavily in recent months were associated with higher odds of violence among women aged 50 to 65.
Comparisons of sexual assault among older and younger women
- Authors:
- del BOVE Giannetta, STERMAC Lana, BAINBRIDGE Deidre
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 17(3), 2005, pp.1-18.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This Canadian study examined the nature and extent of coercion, violence, and physical injury among older victims of sexual assaults (55 years and older) and compared these with the sexual assault victims of mid-age (31-54 years) and younger women (15-30 years). The results of this investigation reveal that older victims of sexual assault are more likely to be living alone at the time of the attack. In addition, older victims of sexual assault tended to report higher rates of vulnerabilities such as psychiatric and cognitive disabilities than did younger female victims. In contrast to younger victims, elder sexual assault victims are also more likely to be assaulted in their own home and one-quarter of older victims require ambulance involvement. Although the use of weapons was most likely in the sexual assaults of younger women, the use of physical violence and restraint was common and equally likely among all three groups. Similarly, vaginal penetration and the presence of physical trauma were just as likely in elder victims as in younger victims of sexual assault. These results reveal new information about the nature and extent of violence and coercion in elder female sexual assaults. The vulnerability of the older victims illustrated in this investigation raises a number of research questions about these women's prior history of victimization and future safety. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
The prevalence and incidence of intimate partner and interpersonal mistreatment in older women in primary care offices
- Authors:
- ZINK Therese, FISHER Bonnie S.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 18(1), 2006, pp.83-105.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Self-report information about mistreatment experiences and perpetrators were collected from a large sample of women over 55 years of age who sought care from Midwestern primary care offices in the United States. A significantly larger proportion of women had experienced sexual mistreatment since turning 55 that was perpetrated by an intimate partner than committed by an interpersonal perpetrator. The women experienced significantly more threats, physical mistreatment, and caregiver mistreatment since turning 55, and more threats and caregiver mistreatment within the last year by an interpersonal perpetrator than by an intimate partner. Several women described different types of perpetrators who had threatened or mistreated them. Few women reported the mistreatment to anyone. Implications for elder service providers and advocates are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Sexual offending on elderly women: a review
- Author:
- BALL Hadrian N.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 16(1), March 2005, pp.127-138.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Despite the not infrequent occurrence of the rape of an elderly woman and the subsequent public shock that is generated, this type of offence remains poorly reported in the medical and scientific literature. This article reviews what little literature is available and brings together the existing knowledge about the phenomenon. The paucity of hard data is emphasized along with the almost complete lack of understanding in respect of the underlying motivations within this offender group. Further work is required, namely the development of theoretical models and the conducting of robust observational studies.
Lifetime abuse and quality of life among older people
- Authors:
- FRAGA Silvia, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 42(4), 2017, pp.215-222.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Few studies have evaluated the impact of lifetime abuse on quality of life (QoL) among older adults. By using a multinational study authors aimed to assess the subjective perception of QoL among people who have reported abuse during the course of their lifetime. The respondents (N = 4,467; 2,559 women) were between the ages of 60 and 84 years and living in seven European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden). Lifetime abuse was assessed by using a structured questionnaire that allowed to assess lifetime experiences of abuse. QoL was assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Old module. After adjustment for potential confounders, authors found that to have had any abusive experience decreased the score of sensory abilities. Psychological abuse was associated with lower autonomy and past, present, and future activities. Physical abuse with injuries significantly decreased social participation. Intimacy was also negatively associated with psychological abuse, physical abuse with injury, and sexual abuse. The results of this study provide evidence that older people exposed to abuse during their lifetime have a significant reduction in QoL, with several QoL domains being negatively affected. (Publisher abstract)
The sexual victimization of older women living in nursing homes
- Authors:
- TEASTER Pamela B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 27(4/5), 2015, pp.392-409.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study examined 64 cases of sexual victimisation of women ages 65+ (mean = 81) living in facilities that were investigated by Adult Protective Services (APS) and regulatory agencies in five states over a six-month period. Typically, abuse involved molestation (53%) and unwelcome sexual interest in the body (20%). Abilities and needs of women in substantiated and unsubstantiated cases were comparable. Resident perpetrators were more likely to be substantiated than staff or any other perpetrator (p = 0.008). The results underscore the need to evaluate differences associated with gender, age, and residence, and to train on reporting and intervention by disciplines serving victims. (Edited publisher abstract)
Abuses against older women: prevalence and health effects
- Authors:
- FISHER Bonnie S., ZINK Therese, REGAN Saundra L.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(2), January 2011, p.254.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Recent research has suggested that women continue to experience abuse well into their later life and this often includes more than one type of abuse. This study involved a clinical sample of 995 community dwelling women aged 55 and older living in Indiana, Ohio or Kentucky. They were surveyed by telephone about their experience with psychological/emotional, control, threat, physical, and sexual abuse. Nearly half of the women had experienced at least one type of abuse since turning 55. Co-occurrence of abuse was common. For example, among the women who were physically abused 95% were also psychologically/emotionally abused, 65% experienced threats, 44% reported experiencing control abuse, and 29% had been sexually abused. Women who experienced any type of abuse were more likely to self-report negative health effects than those who were not abused. The authors suggest that health care and social service providers should routinely screen older women for psychological/emotional abuse as it often co-occurs with more severe forms of abuse.
Sexual abuse of older women living in nursing homes
- Authors:
- TEASTER Pamela B., ROBERTO Karen A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 40(4), 2003, pp.105-119.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Aggregated data from APS case files of sexually abused older women between the ages of 70 and 89 living in nursing homes were collected over a five-year period, yielding a total of 50 substantiated cases. The most common types of sexual abuse involved instances of sexualized kissing and fondling and unwelcome sexual interest in the women's body. All alleged perpetrators were male; they typically were 70 years of age and older and residents in the nursing home. In only three cases was the alleged offender prosecuted in court and only one of these cases was the offender convicted. Implications of these data for future practice and research are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)