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Abstract

Rural and urban areas differ in terms of age structure, health outcomes, and access to resources, but there is limited research on rural-urban differences in elder mistreatment. This study addresses that gap. We used data from Round 3 of the National Social Life, Health & Aging Project (NSHAP) survey (n = 2,333) to examine rural-urban differences in rates of 11 indicators of elder mistreatment, overall and by individual indicators. We conducted logistic regression models and generated predicted probabilities adjusting for sociodemographic and social well-being characteristics. Elder mistreatment was less common among rural than urban older adults (adjusted predicted probability 41.5% vs. 49.5%, P < 0.01). Rates were also higher for urban older adults for nearly every individual indicator of mistreatment. Rates of elder mistreatment were high (>40%) for both rural and urban older adults, but urban older adults faced a greater risk, requiring attention to urban risk and rural resilience.

Keywords

rural aging elder mistreatment social factors adult protective services

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Rural-Urban Differences in the Prevalence and Correlates of Elder Mistreatment

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