Abstract
The objectives of this study are to: (a) examine the association of loneliness and mistreatment of older Chinese women, and (b) examine the potential modifying effect of social support on these associations. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 141 elderly women presented to an urban medical center. After adjusting for confounders, every 1-point increase in the loneliness score was associated with 44% increased risk for mistreatment. After adding the interaction of social support (social support x loneliness), loneliness was no longer associated with increased risk for mistreatment. Loneliness is a significant risk factor for mistreatment of older Chinese women. Greater social support, particularly perceived social support, may modify loneliness as a risk factor for the mistreatment of older Chinese women.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 293-302 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Women and Aging |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2009 |
Funding
This work was supported by National Institute of Child Health Development: (K12 HD050121-03), National Center of Minority Heath and Health Disparities (R-24 RMD001650B), National Institute on Aging: Paul B. Beeson Award (K23 AG030944), The Starr Foundation, John A. Hartford Foundation, and The Atlantic Philanthropies.
Keywords
- Aging
- Chinese population
- Effect modification
- Elder abuse and neglect
- Elder mistreatment
- Loneliness
- Risk factors
- Social support
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Gender Studies