title: Verbal mistreatment of the elderly.
abstract: Elder mistreatment is expected to rise with the aging of the American population. To date, the association between specific forms of mistreatment and decreased quality of life is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between verbal mistreatment among elderly individuals and depression and quality of life. A sample of 142 older adults (40% male) aged 65 or over was enrolled from a large medical practice and academic dental practice, mean (SD) age = 74.88 (6.98) years. Thirty-eight percent of the sample reported verbal mistreatment. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and depression, verbal mistreatment was a significant predictor of social functioning (r = -.28, p < .001), mental health (r = -.25, p < .001), and role limitations OR = 3.02, 95% CI [1.34-6.77]. The present findings highlight the prevalence of verbal mistreatment of elderly individuals.
authors.affiliation: a Bouve College of Health Sciences , Northeastern University , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fulmer
authors.forename: Rachel F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014705:Verbal Behavior
keywords: depression; elderly; quality of life; verbal mistreatment