NCJ Number
105013
Date Published
1987
Length
143 pages
Annotation
To further understanding of physical abuse of elderly parents, interviews were conducted with 15 abusing adult offspring in the six-county region of northeast Ohio between 1984 and 1986. Data on an additional 25 abusing offspring were obtained from casework records.
Abstract
Results indicate that the typical abusing offspring is an unmarried middle-aged male with pathological characteristics. The victim typically is the natural mother who is very old and physically and mentally impaired. While abusing offspring provided considerable care for the parent, they perceived themselves burdened by the parent's disturbing behaviors and the lack of time for personal pursuits. Abusers perceived themselves as socially isolated in the caregiving role and as lacking support from extended family. Most abusers had inflicted three forms of physical violence on the parent. These included shoving, grabbing, slapping, and spanking. However, verbal aggression on the part of both parties was the most common method of handling conflict. Results can be understood within a conceptual framework that integrates abuse socialization, pathology and personality (particularly authoritarianism), social isolation, and acute stress for the adult offspring; vulnerability of the elderly parent; and intimacy between the victim and the abuser. Implications for public policy and program planning are discussed. Name and subject indexes and approximately 175 references.