Annual of social work, Vol. 16 No. 3, 2009.
Original scientific paper
VIOLENCE TOWARD THE ELDERLY IN THE FAMILY IN THE CITY OF ZAGREB
Silvia Rusac
orcid.org/0000-0002-6953-9624
; Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Department of social work, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The aim of the research was to explore the forms of violence experienced by the elderly within the family in view of their sociodemographic features. The sample was constructed as a probabilistic one, with an accidental choice of respondents within households, with the aim of securing its representativeness for the elderly population of the city of Zagreb aged over 65. The research included solitary households as well. The participants were 1 000 elderly aged over 65, out of which 38% male (N=380) and 62% female (N=620) respondents. The results show the differences in experienced forms of violent behaviour depending on sociodemographic features of the elderly. Low educational status is revealed to be significant in psychological, financial and physical violence. A correlation between a lower pension and experienced psychological abuse has also been revealed. The elderly who are financially dependant and who have children are significantly more likely to be exposed to psychological and physical violence. Furthermore, the elderly aged 75-84 significantly more frequently report experienced financial abuse. Neither the participant's sex nor their marital status was found to have a significant influence. In the end, theoretical and practical implications of the obtained results are analyzed.
Keywords
family abuse; elderly; prevalence; sociodemographic features
Hrčak ID:
47816
URI
Publication date:
30.1.2010.
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