Prevalence and correlates of elder mistreatment in South Carolina: the South Carolina elder mistreatment study.

The purposes of this study were to (a) derive prevalence estimates for elder mistreatment (emotional, physical, sexual, neglectful, and financial mistreatment of older adults [age 60 +]) in a randomly selected sample of South Carolinians; (b) examine correlates (i.e., potential risk factors) of mistreatment; and (c) examine incident characteristics of mistreatment events. Random Digit Dialing (RDD) was used to derive a representative sample in terms of age and gender; computer-assisted telephone interviewing was used to standardize collection of demographic, correlate, and mistreatment data. Prevalence estimates and mistreatment correlates were obtained and subjected to logistic regression. A total of 902 participants provided data. Prevalence for mistreatment types (since age 60) were 12.9% emotional, 2.1% physical, 0.3% sexual, 5.4% potential neglect, and 6.6% financial exploitation by family member. The most consistent correlates of mistreatment across abuse types were low social support and needing assistance with daily living activities. One in 10 participants reported either emotional, physical, sexual, or neglectful mistreatment within the past year, and 2 in 10 reported mistreatment since age 60. Across categories, the most consistent correlate of mistreatment was low social support, representing an area toward which preventive intervention may be directed with significant public health implications.

Do incident and perpetrator characteristics of elder mistreatment differ by gender of the victim? Results from the National Elder Mistreatment Study.

Perpetrator and incident characteristics were studied in regard to incidents of emotional, physical, and sexual mistreatment of older adults (age 60+) in a national sample of older men and women. Random digit dialing across geographic strata was used to compile a nationally representative sample; computer assisted telephone interviewing was used to standardize collection of demographic, mistreatment, and perpetrator and incident characteristics data. The final sample size consisted of 5,777 older adults. Approximately one in ten adults reported at least one form of mistreatment, and the majority of incidents were not reported to authorities. Perpetrators of physical mistreatment against men had more "pathological" characteristics compared to perpetrators of physical mistreatment against women. Perpetrators of physical mistreatment (compared to emotional and sexual mistreatment) also evidenced increased likelihood of legal problems, psychological treatment, substance use during incident, living with the victim, and being related to the victim. Implications for future research and social policy are discussed.

Prevalence and correlates of poor self-rated health in the United States: the national elder mistreatment study.

OBJECTIVES: Despite its subjective nature, self-report of health status is strongly correlated with long-term physical morbidity and mortality. Among the most reliable predictors of self-reported poor health is older age. In younger adult populations, the second reliable predictor of reported poor health is the experience of domestic and other interpersonal violence. However, very little research exits on the connection between elder mistreatment and self-reports of poor health. The aim of this study was to examine the level of, and correlates for, poor self-rated health in a community sample of older adults with particular emphasis on elder mistreatment history, demographics, and social dependency variables. DESIGN: Random digit dialing telephone survey methodology. SETTING: A national representative phone survey of noninstitutionalized U.S. household population. PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand seven hundred seventy-seven U.S. adults, aged 60 years and older. MEASUREMENTS: Individuals participated in a structured interview assessing elder mistreatment history, demographics, and social dependency variables. RESULTS: Poor self-rated health was endorsed by 22.3% of the sample. Final multivariable logistic regression models showed that poor self-rated health was associated with unemployment, marital status, low income, low social support, use of social services, needing help in activities of daily living, and being bothered by emotional problems. Secondary analyses revealed a mediational role of emotional symptoms in the association between physical maltreatment and poor health. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that poor health is common among older adults. This study also identified correlates of poor health that may be useful in identification of those in need of intervention.

Prevalence and correlates of emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse and potential neglect in the United States: the National Elder Mistreatment Study.

OBJECTIVES: We estimated prevalence and assessed correlates of emotional, physical, sexual, and financial mistreatment and potential neglect (defined as an identified need for assistance that no one was actively addressing) of adults aged 60 years or older in a randomly selected national sample. METHODS: We compiled a representative sample by random digit dialing across geographic strata. We used computer-assisted telephone interviewing to standardize collection of demographic, risk factor, and mistreatment data. We subjected prevalence estimates and mistreatment correlates to logistic regression. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 5777 respondents. One-year prevalence was 4.6% for emotional abuse, 1.6% for physical abuse, 0.6% for sexual abuse, 5.1% for potential neglect, and 5.2% for current financial abuse by a family member. One in 10 respondents reported emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment or potential neglect in the past year. The most consistent correlates of mistreatment across abuse types were low social support and previous traumatic event exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that abuse of the elderly is prevalent. Addressing low social support with preventive interventions could have significant public health implications.

Respuesta cardiovascular al estrés, autoeficacia computacional y percepción de dificultad de la tarea en estudiantes universitarios venezolano / Cardiovascular response to stress, computational self-efficacy and perceived task difficulty in undergraduate Venezuelan students

Este estudio evaluó la respuesta cardiovascular al estrés en el laboratorio, la autoeficacia computacional y la percepción de dificultad de la tarea en 115 estudiantes de la Universidad Simón Bolívar (Venezuela). Los resultados evidencian que la presión arterial sistólica tiende a valores altos ante el Stroop clásico; mientras que la presión arterial diastólica, en ambas versiones del “test de Stroop” (clásico y computarizado), se distribuyó en valores bajos-medios. Se observa una mayor elevación de la frecuencia cardíaca ante el Stroop clásico. En general, la percepción de la dificultad de la tarea en estos sujetos fue más elevada ante el Stroop clásico. Finalmente, en relación con la autoeficacia computacional los sujetos presentan valores altos. Estos resultados representan una contribución importante, ya que son indicativos de la relación de las variables cognitivas y las respuestas fisiológicas del estudiante universitario ante situaciones demandantes o difíciles. De esta manera, las situaciones vividas en el ambiente académico pueden tener un impacto relevante en los estados de salud y debemos tomar en consideración estos aspectos para el beneficio integral del estudiante (AU)

This paper evaluated the cardiovascular response to stress in a laboratory situation, the computational self-efficacy, and the perceived difficulty of the task, in a sample of 115 undergraduate students of Simon Bolivar University. Results show that the sample distribution of systolic blood pressure (SBP) has a tendency to high values in the classical Stroop task; while the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) obtained in response to both versions of Stroop Test (classical and computerized) was in the low to medium values of the variable, with noticeable elevations during the Stroop tasks. A greater increase of heart rate (HR) was observed during exposure to the Classically administered version of the Stroop task. In general, ratings of perceived difficulty of the Stroop task were higher in response to the Classical administration. Finally, subjects rated their Computer Self-Efficacy as high, indicating confidence and comfort working with computers. These results represent an important contribution to the stress and coping literature as they illustrate the relationship between cognitive factors and physiological responses during cognitively demanding or difficult situations. In terms of the practical implications of these findings, situations experienced in academic environments can have a prominent impact on cardiovascular response, and thus, on health

Trastorno por estrés postraumático en niños: una revisión / Posttraumatic stress disorder in children: a review

La psicología clínica infantil se ha orientado cada vez más hacia cómo evaluar la ocurrencia e impacto de eventos traumáticos en niños, con el propósito específico de desarrollar técnicas terapéuticas eficaces y eficientes para ayudarles a manejar las secuelas de tales eventos. Este trabajo es una revisión general de la literatura psicológica sobre el trauma en la infancia. Nos centramos en asuntos de importancia para los clínicos que trabajan directamente con estos niños y sus familias, tales como: ¿cuántos niños experimentan eventos traumáticos?, ¿cuáles son los tipos de trauma que experimentan con más frecuencia?, ¿cómo deberían ser evaluados el trauma infantil y sus consecuencias en la práctica clínica?, ¿cuáles son las intervenciones terapéuticas disponibles?, ¿qué información se requiere y cuáles son los retos que hay que afrontar? A lo largo de este trabajo, consideraremos factores biológicos, individuales y culturales y prestaremos particular atención a cómo las innovaciones en la tecnología y la comunicación son una promesa en este campo (AU)

The field of child clinical psychology has increasingly focused on how to assess the occurrence and impact of traumatic events on children with the explicit goal of determining effective and efficient therapeutic techniques for helping children manage the sequelae of such events. This paper provides an overview of the psychological literature in childhood trauma. We address important questions most pertinent to clinicians working with children and families: How many children experience traumatic events? What types of trauma do children most often experience? How should childhood trauma and related outcomes be assessed in clinical practice? What therapeutic interventions are available? What information is yet needed and what challenges do we face? Throughout, we consider biological, individual, and cultural factors and pay particular attention to how innovations in technology and communications hold promise for this field