Prevalence of elder abuse and victim-related risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Abstract

Background With the accelerated aging of the Chinese population, elder abuse has become a serious social problem. As COVID-19 has had a very large impact on economic development and lifestyle in China, it has also affected elder abuse. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of elder abuse in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify changes in risk factors for elder abuse in the context of COVID-19. Methods We designed a cross-sectional study. In Hunan Province, a face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among elderly people over 65 years of age. To ensure the consistency of the measurement standards, we used the elder abuse questionnaire from the “Third Survey on Chinese Women’s Social Status.” According to related research, we selected 10 victim-related risk factors as independent variables. A logistic regression model was established to analyze the relationship between the independent variables and the four kinds of abuse. Results We collected 10,362 samples from Hunan Province. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of financial abuse and neglect was significantly higher than that in 2010. Income had a significant impact on the four types of abuse. The lower the income was, the greater the risk of abuse. Moreover, factors such as an older age, being a woman, a lower cognitive ability, and not having a cohabiting spouse increased the possibility of abuse. The greater the number of children was, the greater the risks of physical abuse, financial abuse, and elder neglect. Seniors with higher education levels, those who frequently participated in social activities, and those with religious beliefs were less likely to suffer abuse. Conclusions During the COVID-19 epidemic, the prevalence of elder abuse in China has increased, which may be related to economic instability and social distancing measures. Increasing the income of the elderly and giving them more social support are important measures to reduce the prevalence of elder abuse.

High Rate of Elder Abuse in the Time of COVID-19—A Cross Sectional Study of Geriatric and Neurology Clinic Patients

“…Due to the fact that pensions of the elderly in Poland are often insufficient, they require financial assistance from their children or family. The emerging economic pressure, stress and economic problems of the families of the elderly are the main cause of EA [ 23 ].…”

“…On the other hand, Chang et al [4] noted the occurrence of EA during the COVID-19 pandemic among 21.3% of respondents, an 83.6% increase compared to prevalence estimates prior to the pandemic. In addition, in China, a study by Du and Chen [23] found that 15.4% of the older adults were victims of EA. The conducted preliminary analyses of factors indicate an actual large increase in the percentage of victims of older adult abuse [24,25].…”

Elder abuse and neglect in the midst of COVID-19

“…A recent study on elder abuse and neglect (EAN) in Hunan province in China reported a prevalence of 15.4%, higher than the pre-pandemic Figure [ 5 ]. Another study in the United States found EAN prevalence at 21.3%, a huge leap from figures prior to COVID-19 [ 6 ].…”

“…From one perspective, older adults may see their retirement or investment schemes dwindle as the local and global economies slow down [ 16 ]. On the other hand, adult children who have been plunged into financial distress and uncertainty may resort to their parents for assistance [ 5 ]. While the general assumption is that help within families is based on mutual understanding and filial love, it is difficult to rule out possibilities of financial coercion and manipulation.…”

A Phenomenological Content Analysis of Elder Abuse during COVID-19 Pandemic in India

“…The older people have been hit the hardest by this pandemic, which has had all the worst consequences. Older people have suffered more from mental illnesses than they have from physical illnesses during this pandemic (Du & Chen, 2021; Sharma, 2021). Due to this pandemic, the older people have experienced many problems such as abuse, neglect, insecurity and health related issues in their family and society (Makaroun et al, 2020; Sharma, 2021).…”