higher in studies with small to moderate sample sizes compared to those with larger sample sizes. Nonetheless, data published on elder mistreatment in Singapore hitherto portray low rates, which is not surprising given that the data are derived from service users, and it is well known that only one out of every 14 older adults who experience mistreatment seek services (Acierno, et al., 2000). This study’s findings indicate that a family environment characterized by psychological and physical abuse underlies elder mistreatment. In fact, older adults from families with relationship conflicts had higher odds of experiencing elder mistreatment in two based studies, one of them conducted in South Korea (OR = 5.5, [2.6 -12.5], Oh, Kim, Martins, & Kim, 2006) and another in Eastern Spain (OR = 9.01, [4.8- 16.8], Perez-Carceles, Rubio, Pereniguez, Perez-Flores, Osuna, & Luna, 2009). Although the present study did not focus on specific forms of domestic violence (e.g., child abuse or intimate partner violence), other studies have found that different forms of violence tend to co-exist across one’s and across multiple generations (Jogerst, Dawson, Hartz, Ely, & Schweitzer, 2000; Chokkanathan, 2014). These findings are important given that different forms of family violence are addressed by specialized agencies, raising the likelihood that some forms of violence go undetected. From a research perspective, an intriguing question that should be explored is whether one form of violence causes another form, or if there is a general family environment that underlies violence within and between generations. Loneliness also exacerbated the risk for abuse a result consistent with the findings of other – studies in China (Dong, Simon, Gorbien, Percak, & Golden, 2007) and in India (Chokkanathan, 2015). However, the nature of the relationship between loneliness and elder mistreatment is unclear. Three possible pathways can be hypothesized to explain the relationship between elder mistreatment and loneliness. One, loneliness might cause elder mistreatment. The perpetrators might take advantage of the lack of social connections to
higher in studies with small to moderate sample sizes compared to those with larger sample sizes. Nonetheless, data published on elder mistreatment in Singapore hitherto portray low rates, which is not surprising given that the data are derived from service users, and it is well known that only one out of every 14 older adults who experience mistreatment seek services (Acierno, et al., 2000). This study’s findings indicate that a family environment characterized by psychological and physical abuse underlies elder mistreatment. In fact, older adults from families with relationship conflicts had higher odds of experiencing elder mistreatment in two studies, one of them conducted in South Korea (OR = 5.5, [2.6 -12.5], Oh, Kim, Martins, & Kim, 2006) and another in Eastern Spain (OR = 9.01, [4.8- 16.8], Perez-Carceles, Rubio, Pereniguez, Perez-Flores, Osuna, & Luna, 2009). Although the present study did not focus on specific forms of domestic violence (e.g., child abuse or intimate partner violence), other studies have found that different forms of violence tend to co-exist across one’s and across multiple generations (Jogerst, Dawson, Hartz, Ely, & Schweitzer, 2000; Chokkanathan, 2014). These findings are important given that different forms of family violence are addressed by specialized agencies, raising the likelihood that some forms of violence go undetected. From a research perspective, an intriguing question that should be explored is whether one form of violence causes another form, or if there is a general family environment that underlies violence within and between generations. Loneliness also exacerbated the risk for abuse – a result consistent with the findings of other studies in China (Dong, Simon, Gorbien, Percak, & Golden, 2007) and in India (Chokkanathan, 2015). However, the nature of the relationship between loneliness and elder mistreatment is unclear. Three possible pathways can be hypothesized to explain the relationship between elder mistreatment and loneliness. One, loneliness might cause elder mistreatment. The perpetrators might take advantage of the lack of social connections to based
10.108008946566.2018.1471433.docx