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Elder mistreatment and physical health among older adults: The South Carolina elder mistreatment study
Author(s) -
Cisler Josh M.,
Amstadter Ananda B.,
Begle Angela M.,
Hernandez Melba,
Acierno Ron
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20545
Subject(s) - demographics , elder abuse , gerontology , interpersonal communication , medicine , occupational safety and health , suicide prevention , injury prevention , poison control , interpersonal relationship , psychology , clinical psychology , demography , environmental health , social psychology , pathology , sociology
Exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), including interpersonal violence, is associated with poorer physical health in young adults. This relation has not been well‐investigated among older adults in specific populations. The present study was designed to investigate whether exposure to PTEs and elder mistreatment are associated with physical health status among older adults residing in South Carolina. Older adults aged 60 and above (N = 902) participated in a structured interview assessing elder mistreatment history, PTEs, demographics, and social dependency variables. Results demonstrated that PTEs were associated with poor self‐rated health independently and when controlling for other significant predictors. A recent history of emotional mistreatment was associated with poor self‐rated health independently, but not when controlling for other significant predictors.