Level of Disability, Social Supports and Depression as Correlates to Elder Abuse Among Older Men and Women

By : Aswartha Reddy, Lalitha, K

Page No: 107-115

Abstract
The present study is focused to find out the association between some psychological variables and elder abuse among older men and women. The review reveals that very few studies were carried out on the level of disability, social supports, depression and their relation with elder abuse. The sample of the present study consists of 60 older men and women community-living in the Kadapa District of Andhra Pradesh. The tools like disability scale, social supports, depression and elder abuse questionnaire were used to meet the objective of the study. The data was collected by using randomized technique and the collected data was analyzed. Results show that the sub-groups namely age and gender differed significantly in reporting elderly abuse. The correlation data show that the sub-groups only in the disability scores particularly in the Instrumental activities of daily living is significantly associated with physical abuse and negligence. Even in self-perception of disability also significantly associated with emotional abuse and negligence. Whereas no significant association was found between elder abuse and social supports and depression. The results would be discussed in the light of psychological interventions related to elder abuse.

Authors :
Lalitha, K : Asst. Professor —Department of Psychology, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa-3
Aswartha Reddy : ICSSR Doctorol Fellow —Department of Psychology, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa-3.