title: Sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of elder self-neglect in an US Chinese aging population.
abstract: This study aimed to examine the socio-demographic and socioeconomic characteristics associated with prevalence and severity of elder self-neglect in an U.S. Chinese older population. The PINE study is a population-based epidemiological study in the greater Chicago area. In total, 3159 Chinese older adults were interviewed from 2011 to 2013. Elder self-neglect was assessed with systematic observations of a participant's personal and home environment across five domains: hoarding, personal hygiene, house in need of repair, unsanitary conditions, and inadequate utility. Elder self-neglect was prevalent among older adults aged 80 years or over (mild self-neglect: 34.6% 95% CI 30.9-38.4; moderate/severe: 15.6% 95% CI 12.8-18.6), men (mild: 28.6% 95% CI 26.1-31.3; moderate/severe: 13.1% 95% CI 11.2-15.1), those with 0-6 years of education (mild: 32.2% 95% CI 29.7-34.9; moderate/severe: 12.6% 95% CI 10.8-14.5), and those with an annual personal income between $5000 and $10,000 (mild: 30.8% 95% CI 28.4-33.2; moderate/severe: 11.8% 95% CI 10.2-13.5). Older age (mild self-neglect: OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03; moderate/severe self-neglect: OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03) and lower education levels (mild self-neglect: OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.08; moderate/severe self-neglect: OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04-1.09) were associated with significantly increased odds of elder self-neglect. Women (moderate/severe self-neglect: OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.58-0.93) had significantly decreased odds of moderate/severe elder self-neglect. No significant association was found between levels of income and overall elder-self-neglect of all severities. Future research is needed to examine risk/protective factors associated with elder self-neglect in U.S. Chinese older populations.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Medicine, Nursing and Behavioral Sciences, Chinese Health, Aging and Policy Program, Rush Institute for Health Aging, Nursing and Behavioral Sciences, 1645 West Jackson, Suite 675, Chicago, IL 60612, United States. Electronic address: xinqi_dong@rush.edu.
authors.forename: XinQi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D060845:Hoarding; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Chinese aging; Environmental hazards; Hoarding; Hygiene; Self-neglect; Squalor