Gender variations in the levels of social support and risk of elder mistreatment in a Chinese community population

This study aimed to examine gender differences in social support and risk of elder mistreatment (EM) in a community-dwelling Chinese population. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study of 141 women and 270 men aged 60 years or above. EM was assessed using the modified Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale (VASS), and social support was measured using the Social Support Index (SSI). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, socioeconomic status, depression, loneliness, and medical conditions, lower levels of social support were associated with an increased odds of EM in men (odds ratio [OR] = 5.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.18-13.15, p <.001) and in women (OR = 5.39, 95% CI = 1.95-14.85, p <.001). Perceived social support, but not instrumental social support, was associated with increased odds of EM in men and women. These findings could have important implication for health care professional and social services agencies in the detection, management, and prevention of EM among the aging Chinese population.