Mental Health Correlates of Financial Mistreatment in the National Elder Mistreatment Study Wave II

• NCJ Number: 254138
• Journal: Journal of Aging and Health Volume: 31 Issue: 7 Dated: 2019 Pages: 1196-1211
• Author(s): Ron Acierno; Jordan Watkins; Melba A. Hernandez-tejada; Wenday Muzzy; Gabrielle Frook; Mara Steedley; Georgia Anetzberger
• Date Published: 2019
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2014-MU-CX-0003
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description

Annotation

Since the potential relevance of financial abuse to mental health and perceived health is relatively unknown, this study examined this relationship.

Abstract

The second wave of the National Elder Mistreatment Study used random digit dialing telephone survey methodology to assess both recent financial mistreatment and its potential mental health correlates (i.e., diagnoses of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], generalized anxiety disorder [GAD], and self-ratings of physical health) in 774 older adults. The study indicated that past-year Wave II financial mistreatment was associated with significantly increased likelihood of depression, PTSD, GAD, and poor self-rated health; and financial mistreatment perpetrated by family members was associated with particularly increased risk of depression. Thus, the assessment of mental health is relevant and important in cases of financial abuse. (publisher abstract modified)