Prevalence and Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence Among the Elderly: An Examination of the National Elder Mistreatment Study

• In Event: Prevalence and Trends of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Traditionally, older women who have been victimized by an intimate partner have been overlooked in both the elder abuse literature and the intimate partner violence (IPV) research (Straka & Montminy, 2006). An emerging body of literature has begun to examine the experiences of IPV victims who are older [over 60 years of age] (see Hightower, Smith, & Hightower, 2006; Leisey, Kupstas, & Cooper, 2009; Lundy & Grossman, 2009; Zink, Jacobson, Pabst, Regan & Fisher, 2006), however, our knowledge about IPV among older women, and how this form IPV may differ from elder mistreatment and IPV experienced by younger women remains limited. The current study uses data from the National Elder Mistreatment Study to investigate the prevalence of IPV among the elderly, as well as explore risk factors for various forms of IPV experienced by older adults. The National Elder Mistreatment Study is a large-scale study involving survey data from a nationally representative sample of approximately 6,000 adults age 60 or older and 538 proxy respondents. The current research also aims to establish whether the prevalence of mistreatment and risk factors for mistreatment vary depending upon victim/offender relationship. Findings, as well as theory and policy implications are discussed.

Authors

• Christina Policastro, Georgia Southern University

• Mary A. Finn, Georgia State University