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- Lindert, Jutta, et al.
(författare)
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Study design, sampling and assessment methods of the European study “Abuse of the Elderly in the European Region”
- 2012
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Ingår i: European Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1101-1262 .- 1464-360X. ; 22:5, s. 662-666
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Violence against and abuse of older persons (VAO) aged >60 years has become a prominent public health issue. From January 2009-July 2009, we conducted the cross-sectional European study 'Abuse of the elderly in the European region' (ABUEL) among community-dwelling elderly populations aged 60-84 years in Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. We describe the cooperation, completion and response rates; the modes of recruitment and administration; and analyse differences in response rates between countries. Methods: We calculated the population fraction (respondents in each age/sex group divided by the population in the same age/sex group) and the population fraction ratio (PFR) to describe and analyse heterogeneity between countries. To analyse associations between methods and response rates we conducted cross tabulations and logistic regression analyses. Results: The response rates ranged from 18.9 in Germany to 87.4 in Portugal. Men were underrepresented in all countries (PFR<1). Cluster- and cohort-based sampling produced the highest overall response rates. Conclusion: More European and international studies investigating response behaviour in VAO research systematically are needed to gain further knowledge about the internal and external validity of research on VAO. © 2011 The Author. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Melchiorre, Maria Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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Social Support, Socio-Economic Status, Health and Abuse among Older People in Seven European Countries : Social support and elder abuse in Europe
- 2013
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:1, s. e54856-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundSocial support has a strong impact on individuals, not least on older individuals with health problems. A lack of support network and poor family or social relations may be crucial in later life, and represent risk factors for elder abuse. This study focused on the associations between social support, demographics/socio-economics, health variables and elder mistreatment.MethodsThe cross-sectional data was collected by means of interviews or interviews/self-response during January-July 2009, among a sample of 4,467 not demented individuals aged 60–84 years living in seven European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden).ResultsMultivariate analyses showed that women and persons living in large households and with a spouse/partner or other persons were more likely to experience high levels of social support. Moreover, frequent use of health care services and low scores on depression or discomfort due to physical complaints were indicators of high social support. Low levels of social support were related to older age and abuse, particularly psychological abuse.ConclusionsHigh levels of social support may represent a protective factor in reducing both the vulnerability of older people and risk of elder mistreatment. On the basis of these results, policy makers, clinicians and researchers could act by developing intervention programmes that facilitate friendships and social activities in old age.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Soares, Joaquim J. F., 1947-, et al.
(författare)
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Quality of life among persons aged 60-84 years in Europe: The role of psychological abuse and socio-demographic, social and health factors
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Biosafety and Health Education. - : OMICS Publishing Group. - 2332-0893. ; 1:1, s. 1-12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Elder abuse and its effects are a serious public health issue. However, little is known about therelation between psychological abuse, other factors (e.g. social support) and quality of life (QoL) by domain. This studyaddressed differences in QoL by domain between psychologically abused and non-abused. While considering otherfactors such as social support.Methods: The respondents were 4,467 (2,559 women) randomly selected persons aged 60-84 years living in7 European cities. The mean response across countries was 45.2%. The cross-sectional data were analyzed withbivariate/multivariate methods.Results: Abused respondents contrasted to non-abused scored lower in QoL (autonomy, 67.42 ± 21.26 vs. 72.39± 19.58; intimacy, 55.31 ± 31.15 vs. 67.21 ± 28.55; past/present/future activities, 62.79 ± 19.62 vs. 68.05 ± 18.09;social participation, 65.03 ± 19.84 vs. 68.21 ± 19.77). Regressions showed that abuse was negatively associated withautonomy, intimacy and past/present/future activities, and positively with the social participation. All QoL dimensionswere negatively associated with country and depressive/anxiety symptoms, and positively with social support. Further,variables such as age, sex and somatic symptoms were negatively associated with some of the QoL dimensions andothers such as family structure, education, health care use and drinking positively. The regression model “explained”32.8% of the variation in autonomy, 45.6% in intimacy, 44.8% in past/present/future activities and 41.5% in socialparticipation.Conclusions: Abuse was linked to lower QoL in most domains, but other factors such as depressive symptomsalso carried a negative impact. Social support and to some extent family structure had a “protective” effect on QoL.Abuse, health indicators (e.g. depressive symptoms) and social support should be considered in addressing the QoL ofolder persons. However, QoL was influenced by many factors, which could not be firmly disentangled due to the crosssectionalapproach, calling for longitudinal research to address causality.
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| 5. |
- Stankunas, Mindaugas, et al.
(författare)
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Factors associated with refraining from buying prescribed medications among older people in Europe
- 2014
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Ingår i: Australasian Journal on Ageing. - : Wiley. - 1440-6381 .- 1741-6612. ; 33:4, s. 25-36
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimTo evaluate the associations between refraining from buying prescribed medications and selected factors among older persons.MethodsA total of 4467 people aged 60–84 years from seven European countries answered a questionnaire (response rate 45.2%). Refraining from buying prescribed medications was measured with the question: ‘Have you ever refrained from buying prescribed medication and care?’ResultsAbout 11.9% of older people refrained from buying prescribed medications. The multiple regression analysis showed that ages 60–64 (odds ratio (OR) = 2.08; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.38–3.13) and 65–69 (OR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.16–2.57) years, experience of financial strain (OR = 1.59; 95%CI: 1.27–2.01), as well as exposure to abuse (OR = 1.64; 95%CI: 1.31–2.06) when taking into account country of participant were independently associated with refraining from buying medications, while an opposite association was observed for being male (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.58–0.91).ConclusionsThe study has revealed that refraining from buying prescription medications is a problem among older people and it has identified a number of factors associated with this.
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| 6. |
- Stén, Kersti Danell, et al.
(författare)
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The relationship between abuse, psychosocial factors and pain complaints among older persons in Europe
- 2014
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Ingår i: Medicina (Kaunas). - : MDPI AG. - 1010-660X .- 1648-9144. ; 50:1, s. 61-74
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and objective: Abuse and pain complaints are common among older persons. However, little is known about relationships between abuse (e.g. psychological) and pain complaints (e.g. backache) among older persons while considering other factors (e.g. depression).Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine these relationships.Materials and methods: The design was cross-sectional. A total of 4467 women and men aged 60-84 years from Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden answered questionnaires regarding various areas such as abuse, mental health (e.g. anxiety) and pain complaints (e.g. backache). The data were examined with bivariate (analyses ofvariance) and multivariate methods (linear regressions).Results: The bivariate analyses showed that psychological abuse was connected with all pain complaints; physical with headache and head pressure; sexual with neck or shoulder pain and headache; injury with all complaints (except pain in joints or limbs); financial with pain in joints or limbs and head pressure; and overall abuse (one or more types) with all complaints (except headache). The regressions showed that psychological abuse increased the likelihood of being affected by head pressure and heaviness or tiredness in the legs; physical abuse of being affected by headache and head pressure; financial abuse of being affected by head pressure; and overall abuse of being affected by headache and head pressure. In general, respondents from Sweden and younger (60-64 years) were less affected by the complaints than those from other counties (e.g. Germany) and older (e.g. 70-74 years), respectively. Respondents on medication (e.g. pain killers) were less affected by all pain complaints and those with high social support by pain in joints or limbs. High scores on anxiety and depression and having many diseases increased the likelihood of being affect by all pain complaints.Conclusions: Abuse was related with certain pain complaints (e.g.headache), but other factors and in particular mental health and physical diseases impacted on all pain complaints. Medication and partly social support had a positive effect on the pain experience, i.e. the complaints interfered less with for instance the daily-life of the respondents.
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