Examining the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Disability and vulnerability are among the consequences of aging. This stage of life can be associated with the abuse of older adults by others. The present study aimed to examine the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse in older adults r...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02049-0 |
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| author | Shima Bordbar Parvin Ahmadinejad Jamshid Bahmaei Marjan Vejdani Ali Reza Yusefi |
| author_facet | Shima Bordbar Parvin Ahmadinejad Jamshid Bahmaei Marjan Vejdani Ali Reza Yusefi |
| author_sort | Shima Bordbar |
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| description | Abstract Disability and vulnerability are among the consequences of aging. This stage of life can be associated with the abuse of older adults by others. The present study aimed to examine the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse in older adults residing in Jiroft County, southern Iran, in 2024. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 older adult individuals. The data collection tools included standardized questionnaires on disability, vulnerability, and elder abuse. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression with SPSS version 23 at a significance level 0.05. The mean scores for the severity of disability, vulnerability, and elder abuse among the older adult participants were 98.34 ± 7.56 out of 144, 9.75 ± 3.08 out of 15, and 12.01 ± 3.55 out of 49, respectively, indicating a moderate level of disability, a high level of vulnerability, and a low level of elder abuse. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between elder abuse and the severity of disability (r = 0.821, p < 0.001) as well as vulnerability (r = 0.795, p < 0.001) among older adults. According to the results of multiple linear regression, disability components—including disability in performing activities of daily living, self-care, walking, understanding and communication, lack of self-employment, interaction with others, and participation in social activities—and vulnerability components—including physical, psychological, and social vulnerability—were identified as predictors of elder abuse (P < 0.05). Among the older adult participants, disability was estimated at a moderate level, vulnerability at a high level, and elder abuse at a low level. Based on the results, disability, and vulnerability were identified as predictors of elder abuse, with an increase in these two variables leading to a rise in elder abuse. Therefore, the formulation of supportive policies and their implementation, especially in empowering and promoting self-care among older adults, is recommended. Additionally, attention should be paid to the psychological and social aspects of older adults, and providing a suitable living environment for this age group by all responsible individuals, from family members to municipal authorities, is suggested. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b2548ba3d1724dfdbe69e835c05b17b5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-b2548ba3d1724dfdbe69e835c05b17b52025-08-20T01:51:39ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-02049-0Examining the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse: a cross-sectional studyShima Bordbar0Parvin Ahmadinejad1Jamshid Bahmaei2Marjan Vejdani3Ali Reza Yusefi4Health Human Resources Research Center, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesOccupational Health and Safety Engineering Department, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Public Health, Behbahan Faculty of Medical SciencesIranian Research Center on Healthy Aging, Sabzevar University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Public Health, Sirjan School of Medical SciencesAbstract Disability and vulnerability are among the consequences of aging. This stage of life can be associated with the abuse of older adults by others. The present study aimed to examine the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse in older adults residing in Jiroft County, southern Iran, in 2024. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 older adult individuals. The data collection tools included standardized questionnaires on disability, vulnerability, and elder abuse. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression with SPSS version 23 at a significance level 0.05. The mean scores for the severity of disability, vulnerability, and elder abuse among the older adult participants were 98.34 ± 7.56 out of 144, 9.75 ± 3.08 out of 15, and 12.01 ± 3.55 out of 49, respectively, indicating a moderate level of disability, a high level of vulnerability, and a low level of elder abuse. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between elder abuse and the severity of disability (r = 0.821, p < 0.001) as well as vulnerability (r = 0.795, p < 0.001) among older adults. According to the results of multiple linear regression, disability components—including disability in performing activities of daily living, self-care, walking, understanding and communication, lack of self-employment, interaction with others, and participation in social activities—and vulnerability components—including physical, psychological, and social vulnerability—were identified as predictors of elder abuse (P < 0.05). Among the older adult participants, disability was estimated at a moderate level, vulnerability at a high level, and elder abuse at a low level. Based on the results, disability, and vulnerability were identified as predictors of elder abuse, with an increase in these two variables leading to a rise in elder abuse. Therefore, the formulation of supportive policies and their implementation, especially in empowering and promoting self-care among older adults, is recommended. Additionally, attention should be paid to the psychological and social aspects of older adults, and providing a suitable living environment for this age group by all responsible individuals, from family members to municipal authorities, is suggested.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02049-0AgingSocial vulnerabilityElder abuseIran |
| spellingShingle | Shima Bordbar Parvin Ahmadinejad Jamshid Bahmaei Marjan Vejdani Ali Reza Yusefi Examining the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse: a cross-sectional study Scientific Reports Aging Social vulnerability Elder abuse Iran |
| title | Examining the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Examining the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Examining the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Examining the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | examining the severity of disability and vulnerability among older adults and its impact on elder abuse a cross sectional study |
| topic | Aging Social vulnerability Elder abuse Iran |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02049-0 |
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