Effects of Informal Social Networks As a Protective Factor on Elderly Abuse in South Korea: Focused on the Older Women

 

Background/Purpose: Elder abuse has become a challenging social problem and a violation of basic human rights all around the world, and South Korea is not exceptional. The previous research on elder abuse indicated the status of elder abuse, prevalence of elder abuse, and the type of abuse by gender and age in South Korea. However, although many research have reported that older women are more likely to be vulnerable to have elder abuse experiences in late life in South Korea, few is conducted about protective factors for older women suffering from elder abuse.

The purpose of the study examines the association of informal social network with older women who at risk of elder abuse. The fundamental hypothesis is that better informal social network is associated with a lower risk for elder abuse.

Methods:Data were derived from 2010 Survey of Elder Abuse and Neglect, a cross-sectional general population survey performed in 2009 by Ministry of Health and Welfare in South Korea. A total of 3,995 women aged 65 years or older was analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify associations between age, educational attainment, marital status, household income, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and social networks (‘participation in social networks’ and ‘having close and supportive friends and neighbors’).

Results: In the emotional abuse and neglect analyses ‘participation in social networks’ and ‘having close and supportive friends and neighbors’ were associated with less risk of emotional abuse and neglect. In the fully adjusted model, ‘participation in social networks’, ‘having close and supportive friends and neighbors’, and living with partner, lower education level were associated with a decreased risk of elder abuse.

Conclusions and Implications:Overall, this study found better informal social networks may be a protective factor for older women suffering from elder abuse in South Korea. Further, political and practical approaches are strongly suggested and considered regarding the informal social networks for elder abuse prevention and intervention.

Keywords: older women, elder abuse, social networks, logistic regression analyses