engleski

Elderly persons and domestic violence

Introduction: Findings suggest that domestic violence against elderly persons is poorly identified (1). Estimation is that 10% of persons aged over 65 years are exposed to different types of domestic violence (2). Aim: To investigate the prevalence and type of domestic violence against elderly persons. Subjects and methods: Of 3164 adult persons (mean age: 40.7±11.5 years) who visited the Counseling Center for Victims of Domestic Violence between 2011 and 2015, 1548 were aged 18-39 years ; 1416 were aged 40-59 years, and 200 were aged over 60 years. Sociodemographic dana (gender, age, education level, marital and employment status), violence-related data (perpetrator, duration, type), reporting-related data (notification of police and/or social care services, misdemeanor or criminal charges), and types of intervention were recorded. Results: Subjects aged over 40 years were more often married than those aged under 40 (p=0.000). Subjects under 40 years of age were more often going through a divorce, and those aged over 60 years were more often widows. Persons aged over 60 had only elementary education in 40.5% of the cases, whereas subjects under 60 years of age more often had higher education (p =0.000). Among those aged under 60 years, perpetrators were mostly their partners, whereas among those aged over 60 years, perpetrators were their children in 40% of the cases (p =0.000). Subjects aged over 60 years were exposed to all types of domestic violence (psychological, physical, sexual, and economic) and more often exposed to economic abuse than younger subjects (p=0.035). Subjects aged over 60 reported violence to the police, social care services, and criminal court or sought help significantly less often than younger subjects. Conclusion: Elderly persons are specifically vulnerable to domestic violence because they rarely seek specific protection and help.

age, elderly persons, domestic violence.

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