Unmasking Elder Abuse: Depression and Dependency in the Post-Pandemic Era

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze elder abuse in people over 65 years of age and its relationship with some risk factors—depression symptoms, dependency, gender and age—in the Spanish population. Methods: A battery of questionnaires was administered to a sample of 167 participants electronically (M = 72.42; SD = 6.46), including the Abbreviated Yesavage Scale to assess depression, the Katz Index for Basic Activities of Daily Living to assess dependency, and the American Medical Association and the Canadian Task Force Questionnaire to assess suspicion of abuse. Results: A prevalence of 40.72% of suspected abuse, of 5.99% of established depression, and of 1.20% of severe dependence was obtained. The prevalence of abuse was higher in the population with dependency (75%) than without dependency (37%). In the case of depression, the prevalence of abuse was 70% for people with established depression and 35.4% for people without depression. Conclusion: Women have higher rates of abuse than men, although this difference is not statistically significant. The same occurs with age. Nevertheless, having established depression and dependency are confirmed risk factors for suffering abuse.

Keywords

• elderly
• elderly abuse
• depression
• dependence
• COVID-19
• pandemic