Financial exploitation and psychological mistreatment among older adults: differences between African Americans and non-African Americans in a population-based survey.
OBJECTIVE
to examine racial differences in (a) the prevalence of financial exploitation and psychological mistreatment since turning 60 and in the past 6 months and (b) the experience-perpetrator, frequency, and degree of upset-of psychological mistreatment in the past 6 months.


METHODS
random digit dial telephone recruitment and population-based survey (telephone and in-person) of 903 adults aged 60 years and older in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania (693 non-African American and 210 African American). Covariates included sex, age, education, marital status, household composition, cognitive function, instrumental activities of daily living/activities of daily living difficulties, and depression symptoms.


RESULTS
prevalence rates were significantly higher for African Americans than for non-African Americans for financial exploitation since turning 60 (23.0% vs. 8.4%) and in the past 6 months (12.9% vs. 2.4%) and for psychological mistreatment since turning 60 (24.4% vs. 13.2%) and in the past 6 months (16.1% vs. 7.2%). These differences remained once all covariates were controlled in logistic regression models. There were also racial differences in the experience of psychological mistreatment in the past 6 months. Risk for clinical depression was also a consistent predictor of financial exploitation and psychological mistreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
although the results will need to be replicated in national surveys, the study suggests that racial differences in elder mistreatment are a potentially serious issue deserving of continued attention from researchers, health providers, and social service professionals.
Beach
Scott R
SR
University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. scottb@pitt.edu.
Schulz
Richard
R
Castle
Nicholas G
NG
Rosen
Jules
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013689:Telephone; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American