National Center on Elder Abuse
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National Center on Elder Abuse
Home / Research / Research, Statistics and Data / Intersectionality and Elder Mistreatment
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Intersectionality and Elder Mistreatment
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Intersectionality and Elder Mistreatment
Elder abuse occurs across racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual domains. Though there are a paucity of studies assessing elder abuse in diverse communities, emerging research reflects that perceptions of mistreatment are often culturally construed and contextually determined. These differences impact how mistreatment is defined, described, and addressed among and even within communities. 118 Understanding how diverse communities conceptualize abuse and neglect is essential to developing culturally relevant adult protections and abuse interventions.
- Representative articles addressing mistreatment are linked below.
- Mistreatment Across Diverse Cultures119 120 121 122 123
- Mistreatment of African American Elders124 125
- Mistreatment of Asian American Elders126 127
- Mistreatment of Latinx Elders128
- Mistreatment of Asian Pacific Islander Elders129
- Mistreatment of American Indian Elders130 131
- Mistreatment of Alaska Native Elders132
- Mistreatment of LGBTQ Elders133
- Elder Mistreatment and gender134
- Elder Mistreatment and women135
Behavioral Health, Social Conditions, Violence, and Elder Mistreatment
Elder abuse can precipitate, result from, or co-exist with other forms of violence. It can also be causally connected to other traumas. The following are topic areas that address the intersectionality of elder mistreatment and related phenomena.
- Elder abuse and opioid misuse.136
- Elder abuse and substance abuse.137
- Elder abuse and alcohol misuse.138
- Elder abuse and animal cruelty.139
- Elder abuse and trauma.140
- Elder abuse and bullying.141
- Elder abuse and homelessness.142
- Elder abuse and sibling violence.143
- Elder abuse and family violence.144 145
- Elder abuse and child abuse.146 147
- Elder abuse and domestic violence.148
- Elder Abuse and COVID-19.149 150 151
118 Wallace, R. B., & Crabb, V. L. (2017). Toward definitions of elder mistreatment. Elder Abuse, 3-20.
119 Li, M., Chen, R., & Dong, X. (2020). Elder Mistreatment Across Diverse Cultures. Generations, 44(1), 20-25.
120 Jervis, L. L., Hamby, S., Beach, S. R., Williams, M. L., Maholmes, V., & Castille, D. M. (2016). Elder mistreatment in underserved populations: Opportunities and challenges to developing a contemporary program of research. Journal of elder abuse & neglect, 28(4-5), 301-319.
121 Joseph, J., & Gonzalez, A. (2018). Elder Abuse in Communities of Color in the United States: A Literature Review. In Perspectives on Elderly Crime and Victimization, 125-139.
122 Enguidanos, S., DeLiema, M., Aguilar, I., Lambrinos, J., & Wilber, K. (2014). Multicultural voices: Attitudes of older adults in the United States about elder mistreatment. Ageing and society, 34(5), 877.
123 Burrell, J. E. (2019). Relationship Between Race, Gender, and Elder Abuse Awareness.
124 Mouton, C. P., & Southerland, J. H. (2017). Elder Abuse in the African diaspora: A review. Journal of the National Medical Association, 109(4), 262-271.
125 Horsford, S. R., Parra-Cardona, J. R., Post, L. A., & Schiamberg, L. (2010). Elder abuse and neglect in African American families: informing practice based on ecological and cultural frameworks. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 23(1), 75-88.
126 Chao, Y. Y., Li, M., Lu, S. E., & Dong, X. (2020). Elder mistreatment and psychological distress among US Chinese older adults. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 1-19.
127 Chang, M. (2016). Experience of elder abuse among older Korean immigrants. Journal of elder abuse & neglect, 28(2), 76-94.
128 Hincapie, D., Gilmore, M., Lenox, M., & Stripling, A. (2020). Assessment and treatment of elder abuse in Spanish speaking Americans: A scoping review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 101480.
129 Chen, R., & Dong, X. (2017). Risk factors of elder abuse. Elder Abuse, 93-107.
130 Hamby, S., Schultz, K., & Elm, J. (2020). Understanding the burden of trauma and victimization among American Indian and Alaska native elders: historical trauma as an element of poly-victimization. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 21(2), 172-186.
131 Crowder, J., Burnett, C., Laughon, K., & Dreisbach, C. (2019). Elder abuse in American Indian communities: An integrative review. Journal of forensic nursing, 15(4), 250-258.
132 Hamby, S., Schultz, K., & Elm, J. (2020). Understanding the burden of trauma and victimization among American Indian and Alaska native elders: historical trauma as an element of poly-victimization. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 21(2), 172-186.
133 Gutman, G. M., Robson, C., & Marchbank, J. (2020). Elder Abuse in the LGBT Community. Advances in Elder Abuse Research, 149-164.
134 Sengstock, M. C., & Gill, B. I. (2016). Elder Abuse and Gender. The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies, 1-3.
135 Yon, Y., Mikton, C., Gassoumis, Z. D., & Wilber, K. H. (2019). The prevalence of self-reported elder abuse among older women in community settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 20(2), 245-259.
136 Roberto, K. A., Teaster, P. B., Lindberg, B. W., & Blancato, R. (2020). A First (and Disturbing) Look at the Relationship Between the Opioid Epidemic and Elder Abuse: Insights of Human Service Professionals. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 0733464820947279.
137 Carney, A., & Liang, K. (2020). Medication and Substance Use and Misuse in the Elderly. Elder Abuse, 213-229.
138Teaster, P. B., & Brossoie, N. (2016). The Intersection of Elder Abuse and Alcohol Misuse. Alcohol and Aging, 131-147.
139 Fitzgerald, A. J., Barrett, B. J., Gray, A., & Cheung, C. H. (2020). The connection between animal abuse, emotional abuse, and financial abuse in intimate relationships: evidence from a nationally representative sample of the general public. Journal of interpersonal violence, 0886260520939197.
140 DePrince, A. P., & Jackson, S. L. (2020). Moving the field forward: elucidating the nexus between elder abuse and trauma.
141 von Humboldt, S., Ribeiro-Gonçalves, J. A., & Leal, I. (2020). Bullying in Old Age: A Qualitative Study on Older Adults’ Perceptions About Being Bullied. Journal of interpersonal violence, 0886260520943709.
142 Petersen, M., & Parsell, C. (2015). Homeless for the first time in later life: An Australian study. Housing Studies, 30(3), 368-391.
143 Spira, M., Perkins, N. H., & Gilman, A. H. (2020). Trauma from physical and emotional sibling violence as a potential risk factor for elder abuse. Journal of gerontological social work, 63(3), 162-173.
144 Burnes, D., Ernst, J., & Brownell, P. (2019). Stop Family Violence. Gerontological Social Work and the Grand Challenges, 33-45.
145Meyer, K., Yonashiro-Cho, J., Gassoumis, Z. D., Mosqueda, L., Han, S. D., & Wilber, K. H. (2019). What can elder mistreatment researchers learn about primary prevention from family violence intervention models?. The Gerontologist, 59(4), 601-609.
146 Teresi, J. A., Burnes, D., Skowron, E. A., Dutton, M. A., Mosqueda, L., Lachs, M. S., & Pillemer, K. (2016). State of the science on prevention of elder abuse and lessons learned from child abuse and domestic violence prevention: Toward a conceptual framework for research. Journal of elder abuse & neglect, 28(4-5), 263-300.
147 Lu, P., & Shelley, M. (2019). Comparing older adult and child protection policy in the United States of America. Ageing & Society, 1-21.
148Teresi, J. A., Burnes, D., Skowron, E. A., Dutton, M. A., Mosqueda, L., Lachs, M. S., & Pillemer, K. (2016). State of the science on prevention of elder abuse and lessons learned from child abuse and domestic violence prevention: Toward a conceptual framework for research. Journal of elder abuse & neglect, 28(4-5), 263-300.
149 Han, S. D., & Mosqueda, L. (2020). Elder Abuse in the COVID 19 Era. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
150 Makaroun, L. K., Bachrach, R. L., & Rosland, A. M. (2020). Elder abuse in the time of COVID-19—Increased risks for older adults and their caregivers. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(8), 876-880.
151 Gardner, W., States, D., & Bagley, N. (2020). The coronavirus and the risks to the elderly in long-term care. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 1-6.
Last Modified: 02/28/2024