Lifetime Abuse and Mental Health Among Older Persons: A European Study |
| |
Authors: | Bahareh Eslami Gloria Macassa Maria Gabriella Melchiorre Henrique Barros Eija Viitasara Jutta Lindert |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Swedenbahareh.eslami@miun.se;3. Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden;4. Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, University of G?vle, G?vle, Sweden;5. Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, INRCA, Ancona, Italy;6. Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Porto Medical School, Porto, Portugal;7. Department of Public Health, University of Emden, Emden, Germany;8. Women’s Studies Research Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA |
| |
Abstract: | This study aimed to investigate the association of lifetime abuse and mental health among older persons, considering associated factors (e.g., demographics) through a cross-sectional design. We recruited 4,467 women and men ages 60–84 years from 7 European cities. Mental health was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and physical injuries) based on the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale and the UK survey of abuse/neglect of older people. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that country of residence, low educational level, and experienced financial strain increased the odds of probable cases of anxiety and depression. Female sex, white-collar profession, and financial support by social/other benefits/or partner income were associated with higher odds of anxiety, while older age and experience of lifetime injury were associated with increased odds of depressive symptoms. The findings of this study indicate that socioeconomic factors, as well as experienced lifetime severe physical abuse leading to injuries, are significant in perceived mental health of adults in later life. |
| |
Keywords: | Anxiety depression injury psychological sexual violence |
|
|