Purpose This study sought to investigate the influence of care recipient’s gender and caregiver familism on elder abuse among cognitively impaired older adults aged 55 or above in China. Familism was investigated as a potential moderator of the relationship between elder abuse and gender. Method A survey was conducted among 958 community-dwelling elderly individuals aged 55 or above and their family caregivers at the geriatric departments of three hospitals in Guangdong Province of China. This study used OLS regression, logistics regression and moderation models to analyze how the gender of the care recipient and the caregiver’s perception of familism affect the incidence of elder abuse, including psychological and physical abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Results The study found that care recipient gender alone was not significantly associated with psychological abuse or neglect. However, older men were significantly more likely than older women to experience financial exploitation by caregivers (β = 0.394, SE = 0.193, <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="10896_2025_901_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="12" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="13" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$p$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mi>p</mi> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>< 0.05). When accounting for the moderating effect of caregiver familism, older men exhibited increased susceptibility to overall elder abuse (β = 0.125, SE = 0.043, <InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="10896_2025_901_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="12" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="13" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$p$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mi>p</mi> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>< 0.01) and specific forms including psychological abuse (β = 0.024, SE = 0.014, <InlineEquation ID="IEq3"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="10896_2025_901_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="12" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="13" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$p$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mi>p</mi> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>< 0.1), neglect (β = 0.0519, SE = 0.026, <InlineEquation ID="IEq4"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="10896_2025_901_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="12" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="13" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$p$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mi>p</mi> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>< 0.05) and financial exploitation (β = 0.048, SE = 0.026, <InlineEquation ID="IEq5"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="10896_2025_901_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="12" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="13" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$p$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mi>p</mi> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>< 0.1). Conclusion By extending the Sociocultural Stress and Coping model, this research underscores the influence of cultural values, particularly familism, on caregiving outcomes. It provides valuable insights into the gendered and cultural dimensions of elder abuse, indicating the necessity for gender-responsive, and culturally sensitive strategies in elder abuse prevention and intervention.

Gender Disparities in Elder Abuse in China: Examining the Moderating Effect of Caregiver Familism

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年6月4日

查看全文

Hong Zhang,
Xinge Wu,
Boye Fang

摘要

Purpose

This study sought to investigate the influence of care recipient’s gender and caregiver familism on elder abuse among cognitively impaired older adults aged 55 or above in China. Familism was investigated as a potential moderator of the relationship between elder abuse and gender.

Method

A survey was conducted among 958 community-dwelling elderly individuals aged 55 or above and their family caregivers at the geriatric departments of three hospitals in Guangdong Province of China. This study used OLS regression, logistics regression and moderation models to analyze how the gender of the care recipient and the caregiver’s perception of familism affect the incidence of elder abuse, including psychological and physical abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

Results

The study found that care recipient gender alone was not significantly associated with psychological abuse or neglect. However, older men were significantly more likely than older women to experience financial exploitation by caregivers (β = 0.394, SE = 0.193, $p$ $p$ < 0.05). When accounting for the moderating effect of caregiver familism, older men exhibited increased susceptibility to overall elder abuse (β = 0.125, SE = 0.043, $p$ $p$ < 0.01) and specific forms including psychological abuse (β = 0.024, SE = 0.014, $p$ $p$ < 0.1), neglect (β = 0.0519, SE = 0.026, $p$ $p$ < 0.05) and financial exploitation (β = 0.048, SE = 0.026, $p$ $p$ < 0.1).

Conclusion

By extending the Sociocultural Stress and Coping model, this research underscores the influence of cultural values, particularly familism, on caregiving outcomes. It provides valuable insights into the gendered and cultural dimensions of elder abuse, indicating the necessity for gender-responsive, and culturally sensitive strategies in elder abuse prevention and intervention.