Self-Reported Elder Domestic Partner Violence in One Rural Iowa County

Abstract

ABSTRACT Compared with urban settings, much less is known about the prevalence and correlates of elder abuse in rural areas. The purposes of this study were to: (1) examine the prevalence of elder domestic part ner violence and (2) estimate the prevalence of elder abuse reported and inflicted by men and women and to identify factors associated with elder domestic partner violence. A secondary data analyses was completed for 362 cohabitating partners who were participants in a population-based, prospective study. Based on results of the Conflict Tactics Scale, 32% of the cohabiting participants reported emotional abuse and 2% reported physical abuse. Significant risk factors of reported emotional abuse were having depressive symptoms, higher antisocial personality score, and not living in a town.