Introduction: Violence against older people is a social and public health issue related to social behaviors and values, which causes high morbidity and mortality. It has severe repercussions on health systems and older people’s physical and mental health, especially those most vulnerable. Given the marked aging of the population, this situation is expected to worsen in society. A multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach is required to address and reduce it. Primary health care nurses are well placed to work with families and communities and are key to ensuring older people’s health and well-being. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of violence in community-dwelling older people (at home) in the past year and in their lifetime; to characterize the chronicity and severity of the actions, type of aggressors, reactions and feelings of the victims; to characterize the occurrence of violence according to socio-demographic characteristics, use of health services, lifestyles, physical and mental health, quality of life (QoL), and social support; to identify determinants associated with violence. Methods: Descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional study, with an accidental sampling technique. The target population consisted of community-dwelling people aged 60 and over residing in the municipality of Coimbra. Data were collected using the ABUEL (Elder Abuse: A Multinational Prevalence Survey) questionnaire. Results: The sample included 427 participants, with a mean age of 72.2 years (minimum of 60 and maximum of 95 years), of whom 60.2% were women and 49.9% lived with their spouse/partner. The main source of income was the retirement pension (35.4%). The prevalence of violence in the last year was 39.4% for overall violence. There was an increase in all types of lifetime violence and overall violence (41.7%). Psychological and financial violence were the most reported types of violence. “Emotional” reaction was the most frequent reaction. In all types of violence, family members were the main aggressors. Protective factors for psychological violence included age, cohabitation, social support (family support), and QoL in intimacy. Mental health (anxiety) emerged as a risk factor. Being older, living alone, having more social support/higher family support, and having higher QoL in intimacy reduce the likelihood of being a victim. More anxious individuals are more likely to be victimized. Gender, marital status, cohabitation, and mental health (anxiety) emerged as risk factors for financial violence. The following individuals were more likely to suffer this type of violence: men; those who were not married/cohabiting (single, divorced/separated, and widowed); those who were cohabiting with their partner and “others”; and the most anxious individuals. Conclusions: This study allowed characterizing violence and the aggressors and identifying the protective and risk factors for psychological and financial violence. Therefore, it informs nurses’ critical thinking in their intervention with older people, families, and the community in preventing violence and promoting older people’s QoL. When assessing older people, their families, and the surrounding community, it is the nurse's responsibility, through data collection and interactions with the patient/family, to assess the predictors of violence to prevent, detect, and intervene in this area.
Date of Award | 31 May 2024 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | Margarida Maria Vieira (Supervisor) |
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- Nursing
- Older people
- Violence
- Risk factors
- Community
- Doutoramento em Enfermagem
Violência contra as pessoas idosas na comunidade: desafios e prioridades para a ação dos enfermeiros
Veríssimo, C. M. F. (Student). 31 May 2024
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis