Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Claire Robb

Abstract

Elderly abuse is a pervasive public health problem in the United States. Most abuse and neglect go unreported due to barriers including fear for safety, concerns about the consequences, culture, lack of knowledge about elder abuse, shame, and self-blame. However, there is limited research on how race and ethnicity impact help-seeking behaviors of the elderly. This cross-sectional quantitative study examined the difference in reporting and help-seeking behavior between African American and non-African American victims of elderly abuse. Applying the behavioral model of health services use, this study involved a secondary data analysis using the Nation Elderly Mistreatment Study Wave II survey (N = 774). Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the difference in help-seeking behavior and perpetrator’s characteristics between African Americans and non-African Americans. The results of the study showed no significant difference in reporting between African Americans and non-African Americans. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in perpetrator characteristics between African American and non-African American victims of elder abuse. The implication for social change includes a better understanding of the reporting and help-seeking behavior of African American victims of elder abuse and enablers and barriers in reporting and help-seeking. It will also help identify mechanisms for detecting abuse and mistreatment and implementing interventions that have the potential to prevent mistreatment.

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