Abuse of Marginalized Older Adults during COVID-19: Proxy Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

ABSTRACT

Child and spousal abuse rates tend to increase during various disasters. This study sought to determine the prevalence and determinants of older adults' experiences of increased verbal or physical conflict (+VPC) as a proxy for elder abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data stem from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a prospective cohort study of 51,338 Canadians aged 45-85 at baseline. We analyzed the data of participants aged 55 or older at core follow-up 1 who also participated in a CLSA COVID-19 substudy (n = 24,306). Experiencing +VPC was the main outcome variable;explanatory variables included gender identity, sexual orientation, age group, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, marital status, household income, working status, living arrangement (alone vs. with others), social support availability, cohesion in the community, self-rated health, anxiety, depression, and previous history of elder abuse. The overall weighted prevalence of +VPC was 7.4%. Gay/bisexual men, 55-64 age group, living with others, low social support, poor social cohesion, low self-rated health, poor mental health, and history of psychological or physical abuse were each significantly associated with +VPC. Weighted multivariable logistic regression revealed that male gender, living with others, higher depression and anxiety scores, and a history of psychological abuse were independent predictors of +VPC. Implications for postpandemic recovery and prevention strategies during future disasters include targeted outreach programs for the most vulnerable group, which included males and younger older adults between 55 and 64 years as well as those with mental health issues and/or history of elder psychological abuse.