Intimate partner violence (IPV) in older adults has been overlooked in both studies of IPV and elder abuse. The former focuses on IPV among younger or middle-aged adults, while the latter emphasizes violence against older adults regardless of the perpetrator. We undertook a scoping review and meta-analysis to facilitate understanding of the prevalence rates of IPV in older adults, risk factors, and health outcomes. A comprehensive literature search identified 37 studies published before August 2025. While the overall quality of the studies is generally high, there is significant variability in how IPV is assessed regarding age cutoffs, time frames, and measurement instruments. Regarding past-year IPV, the pooled prevalence rate for any form of IPV among older adults is 10.6%; for lifetime IPV, the pooled prevalence rate is 15.1% in community samples. Psychological IPV was identified as the most common form of late-life IPV. Experiencing or witnessing victimization during childhood (OR = 1.902, 95% CI [1.176, 3.076], p < .01) was significantly associated with IPV in older adults, and the odds ratio is larger than that of the other victim-related factors (OR = 1.476, [1.29, 1.688], p < .001). Perpetrator-related, relationship, community, and sociocultural factors were also explored. IPV in older adults was associated with increased health problems, elder abuse victimization, and medication use. These findings highlight the importance of adopting a life-course perspective in both research and intervention strategies aimed at preventing IPV in older adults. Future research is warranted to adopt a standardized definition of IPV in late life and explore its broader consequences.
AndaR. F.FelittiV. J.BremnerJ. D.WalkerJ. D.WhitfieldC.PerryB. D.DubeS. R.GilesW. H. (2006). The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 256(3), 174–186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-005-0624-4
2.
ArkseyH.O’MalleyL. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
3.
Band-WintersteinT.EisikovitsZ. (2009). “Aging out” of violence: The multiple faces of intimate violence over the life span. Qualitative Health Research, 19(2), 164–180.
4.
BeachS. R.ChristopherR. C.TonyR.PhyllisS.GellesR. (2016). Screening and detection of elder abuse: Research opportunities and lessons learned from emergency geriatric care, intimate partner violence, and child abuse. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 28(4–5), 185–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/08946566.2016.1229241
5.
Ben-HarushA.Shiovitz-EzraS.DoronI.AlonS.LeibovitzA.GolanderH.HaronY.AyalonL. (2017). Ageism among physicians, nurses, and social workers: Findings from a qualitative study. European Journal of Ageing, 14, 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-016-0389-9
6.
BonomiA. E.AndersonM. L.ReidR. J.CarrellD.FishmanP. A.RivaraF. P.ThompsonR. S. (2007). Intimate partner violence in older women. The Gerontologist, 47(1), 34–41. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/47.1.34
7.
BronfenbrennerU. (2013). Ecology of the family as a context for human development: Research perspectives. In CastellinoD. R.LernerR. M. (Eds.), Adolescents and their families: Structure, function, and parent-child relationships (pp. 1–20). Routledge.
8.
CationsM.KeageH. A. D.LaverK. E.BylesJ.LoxtonD. (2022). Intimate partner violence and risk for mortality and incident dementia in older women. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(5–6), NP2605–NP2625. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520943712
9.
CationsM.KeageH. A. D.LaverK. E.BylesJ.LoxtonD. (2021). Impact of historical intimate partner violence on wellbeing and risk for elder abuse in older women. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry: Official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(9), 930–940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2020.12.026
10.
ChapmanH.GillespieS. M. (2019). The revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2): A review of the properties, reliability, and validity of the CTS2 as a measure of partner abuse in community and clinical samples. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 44, 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2018.10.006
11.
ChenM.ChanK. L. (2021). Characteristics of intimate partner violence in China: Gender symmetry, mutuality, and associated factors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(13–14), NP6867–NP6889. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518822340
12.
ChenM.FuY. (2022). Adverse childhood experiences: Are they associated with greater risk of elder abuse victimization?Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(19–20), NP17662–NP17687. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211028328
13.
CrockettC.CooperB.BrandlB. (2018). Intersectional stigma and late-life intimate-partner and sexual violence: How social workers can bolster safety and healing for older survivors. The British Journal of Social Work, 48(4), 1000–1013. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcy049
14.
DalyJ. M.HartzA. J.StromquistA. M.Peek-AsaC.JogerstG. J. (2007). Self-reported elder domestic partner violence in one rural Iowa County. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 7(4), 115–134. https://doi.org/10.1300/J135v07n04_06
15.
DesmaraisS. L.ReevesK. A. (2007). Gray, black, and blue: The state of research and intervention for intimate partner abuse among elders. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 25(3), 377–391. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.763
16.
DongX.WangB. (2019). Associations of child maltreatment and intimate partner violence with elder abuse in a US Chinese population. JAMA Internal Medicine, 179(7), 889–896. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.0313
17.
FarhatS. M. M.BerbicheD.VasiliadisH. M. (2022). Family violence associated with self-rated health, satisfaction with life, and health service use in primary care older adults. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(5–6), 2487–2509. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520938513
18.
FisherB. S.ReganS. L. (2006). The extent and frequency of abuse in the lives of older women and their relationship with health outcomes. The Gerontologist, 46(2), 200–209. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/46.2.200
19.
GilbertR.WidomC. S.BrowneK.FergussonD.WebbE.JansonS. (2009). Burden and consequences of child maltreatment in high-income countries. The Lancet, 373(9657), 68–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61706-7
20.
Giraldo-RodríguezL.Mino-LeónD.Aragón-GrijalvaS. O.Agudelo-BoteroM. (2022). The revictimization of older Mexican women: Understanding the accumulation of multiple victimizations throughout a lifetime. BMC Geriatrics, 22, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02734-5
21.
GuedesD. T.AlvaradoB. E.PhillipsS. P.CurcioC. L.ZunzuneguiM. V.GuerraR. O. (2015). Socioeconomic status, social relations and domestic violence (DV) against elderly people in Canada, Albania, Colombia and Brazil. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 60(3), 492–500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2015.01.010
HernándezR. R.Esquivel-SantovenaE. E. (2020). Prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence among elderly Mexican women. [Prevalencia y factores asociados con la violencia de pareja en las adultas mayores mexicanas]. Salud Colectiva, 16, Article e2600. https://dx.doi.org/10.18294/sc.2020.2600
24.
HeronR. L.EismaM.BrowneK. (2022). Why do female domestic violence victims remain in or leave abusive relationships? A qualitative study. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 31(5), 677–694. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2021.2019154
25.
HillmanJ. (2022). Lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence and health-related outcomes among transgender adults aged 50 and older. The Gerontologist, 62(2), 212–222. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnab067
26.
JasinskiJ. L.DietzT. L. (2003). Domestic violence and stalking among older adults: An assessment of risk markers. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 15(1), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1300/J084v15n01_02
27.
KoenigT. L.RinfretteE. S.LutzW. A. (2006). Female caregivers’ reflections on ethical decision-making: The intersection of domestic violence and elder care. Clinical Social Work Journal, 34(3), 361–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-005-0023-3
28.
KongJ.EastonS. D.FletcherJ. M. (2024). Lifetime revictimization: Evidence from the Wisconsin longitudinal study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(19–20), 4113–4134. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241264534
29.
LazenbattA.DevaneyJ.GildeaA. (2013). Older women living and coping with domestic violence. Community Practitioner, 86(2), 28–32.
30.
LefebvreC.GlanvilleJ.BriscoeS.FeatherstoneR.LittlewoodA.MetzendorfM.-I.Noel-StorrA.PaynterR.RaderT.ThomasJ.WeilandL. S., & on behalf of the Cochrane Information Retrieval Methods Group. (2024). Searching for and selecting studies. In HigginsJ. P. T.ThomasJ.ChandlerJ.CumpstonM.LiT.PageM. J.WelchV. A. (Eds.), Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of iInterventions (Chapter 4). Cochrane.
31.
LevacD.ColquhounH.O’BrienK. K. (2010). Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science, 5(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-5-69
32.
LiC. C.MatthewsA. K.YenP. S.ChenY. F.DongX. (2021). Intimate partner violence and its relationship with psychological distress among older Asian Americans: Results from the California Health Interview Survey. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 63, Article 102798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102798
LilesS.UsitaP.IrvinV. L.HofstetterC. R.BeestonT.HovellM. F. (2012). Prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence among young, middle, and older women of Korean descent in California. Journal of Family Violence, 27(8), 801–811. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-012-9471-z
36.
LowensteinA.EisikovitsZ.Band-WintersteinT.EnoshG. (2009). Is elder abuse and neglect a social phenomenon? Data from the first national prevalence survey in Israel. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 21(3), 253–277. https://doi.org/10.1080/08946560902997629
37.
LundyM.GrossmanS. F. (2004). Elder abuse: Spouse/Intimate partner abuse and family violence among elders. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 16(1), 85–102. https://doi.org/10.1300/J084v16n01_05
38.
MakarounL. K.BrignoneE.RoslandA.M.DichterM. E. (2020). Association of health conditions and health service utilization with intimate partner violence identified via routine screening among middle-aged and older women. JAMA Network Open, 3(4), Article e203138. https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.3138
39.
MethenyN.EssackZ. (2020). Intimate partner violence in older South African women: An analysis of the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey. South African Medical Journal, 110(10), 1020–1025. https://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i10.14684
40.
MonteroI.Martin-BaenaD.Escriba-AguirV.Ruiz-PerezI.Vives-CasesC.TalaveraM. (2013). Intimate partner violence in older women in Spain: Prevalence, health consequences, and service utilization. Journal of Women & Aging, 25(4), 358–371. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2013.838854
41.
NamS. I.LincolnK. D. (2017). Lifetime family violence and depression: The case of older women in South Korea. Journal of Family Violence, 32(3), 269–278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-016-9844-9
42.
NamS. I.LloydD. A.VegaW. A. (2015). Correlates of intimate partner violence in male baby boom and elderly South Korean cohorts. Journal of Family Violence, 30(5), 529–537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-015-9723-9
43.
OramS.FisherH. L.MinnisH.SeedatS.WalbyS.HegartyK.RoufK.AngénieuxC.CallardF.ChandraP. S.FazelS.Garcia-MorenoC.HendersonM.HowarthE.MacMillanH. L.MurrayL. K.OthmanS.RobothamD.RondonM. B.. . . HowardL. M. (2022). The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on intimate partner violence and mental health: Advancing mental health services, research, and policy. The Lancet Psychiatry, 9(6), 487–524. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(22)00008-6
PampolimG.LeiteF. M. C. (2021). Analysis of repeated violence against older adults in a Brazilian state [Análisis de la violencia de repetición hacia el adulto mayor en un estado brasileño· Análise da violencia de repetiçao contra a pessoa idosa em um estado brasileiro·]. Aquichan, 21(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.5294/aqui.2021.21.1.8
46.
PathakN.DhairyawanR.TariqS. (2019). The experience of intimate partner violence among older women: A narrative review. Maturitas, 121, 63–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2018.12.011
47.
PhamM. T.RajićA.GreigJ. D.SargeantJ. M.PapadopoulosA.McEwenS. A. (2014). A scoping review of scoping reviews: Advancing the approach and enhancing the consistency. Research Synthesis Methods, 5(4), 371–385. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.1123
48.
PillemerK.BurnesD.RiffinC.LachsM. S. (2016). Elder abuse: Global situation, risk factors, and prevention strategies. The Gerontologist, 56(Suppl 2), S194–S205. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw004
49.
PooleC.RietschlinJ. (2012). Intimate partner victimization among adults aged 60 and older: An analysis of the 1999 and 2004 general social survey. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 24(2), 120–137. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08946566.2011.646503
50.
RobertoK. A.McPhersonM. C.BrossoieN. (2014). Intimate partner violence in late life: A review of the empirical literature. Violence Against Women, 19(12), 1538–1558. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801213517564
51.
RohS.BurnetteC. E.LeeK. H.LeeY. S.EastonS. D. (2016). Risk and protective factors for depressive symptoms among indigenous older adults: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and social support. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 59(4), 316–331. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2016.1214659
52.
SardinhaL.Maheu-GirouxM.StöcklH.MeyerS. R.García-MorenoC. (2022). Global, regional, and national prevalence estimates of physical or sexual, or both, intimate partner violence against women in 2018. The Lancet, 399(10327), 803–813. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02664-7
53.
SchreiberE.Georgia SalivarE. (2021). Using a vulnerability-stress-adaptation framework to model intimate partner violence risk factors in late life: A systematic review. Aggression and violent behavior, 57, 101493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2020.101493
54.
ShibusawaT. P. L.YickA. P. M. S. W. (2007). Experiences and perceptions of intimate partner violence among older Chinese immigrants. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 19(3–4), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1300/J084v19n03_01
55.
SormantiM.WuE.El-BasselN. (2004). Considering HIV risk and intimate partner violence among older women of color: A descriptive analysis. Women & Health, 39(1), 45–63. https://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J013v39n01_03
56.
StöcklH.PenhaleB. (2015). Intimate partner violence and its association with physical and mental health symptoms among older women in Germany. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30(17), 3089–3111. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0886260514554427
57.
StöcklH.WattsC.PenhaleB. (2012). Intimate partner violence against older women in Germany: Prevalence and associated factors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(13), 2545–2564. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260512436390
58.
Van RoyenK.PaulV. R.LiesbethD. D.GobbensR. J. (2020). Elder abuse assessment tools and interventions for use in the home environment: A scoping review. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 15, 1793–1807. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S261877
59.
WangB.DongX. (2019). Life course violence: Child maltreatment, IPV, and elder abuse phenotypes in a US Chinese Population. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(S3), S486–S492. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16096
60.
WarmlingD.ConceicaoT. B.LindnerS. R.CoelhoE. B. S. (2021). Victimization and perpetration of intimate partner violence among elderly people: A cross-sectional study, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2013/2014. [Vitimização e perpetração da violência por parceiro íntimo em idosos: estudo transversal, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, 2013/2014]. Epidemiologia E Servicos De Saude, 30(4), Article e20201117. https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1679-49742021000400009
61.
WhiteS. J.SinJ.SweeneyA.SalisburyT.WahlichC.Montesinos GuevaraC. M.GillardS.BrettE.AllwrightL.IqbalN.KhanA.PerotC.MarksJ.MantovaniN. (2023). Global prevalence and mental health outcomes of intimate partner violence among women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(1), 494–511. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231155529
62.
WidomC. S.CzajaS.DuttonM. A. (2014). Child abuse and neglect and intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration: A prospective investigation. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38(4), 650–663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.11.004
YanE.ChanK. L. (2012). Prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence among older Chinese couples in Hong Kong. International Psychogeriatrics, 24(9), 1437–1446. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610212000294
67.
YonY.MiktonC. R.GassoumisZ. D.WilberK. H. (2017). Elder abuse prevalence in community settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Global Health, 5(2), e147–e156. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(17)30006-2
68.
YonY.WisterA. V.MitchellB.GutmanG. (2014). A national comparison of spousal abuse in mid- and old age. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 26(1), 80–105. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08946566.2013.784085
69.
Zhang KudonH.HerbstJ. H.RichardsonL. C.SmithS. G.DemissieZ.SiordiaC. (2024). Prevalence estimates and factors associated with violence among older adults: National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence (NISVS) Survey, 2016/2017. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 36(1), 67–83. https://doi.org/10.1080/08946566.2023.2297227
70.
ZinkT.FisherB. S. (2006). The prevalence and incidence of intimate partner and interpersonal mistreatment in older women in primary care offices. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 18(1), 83–105. https://doi.org/10.1300/J084v18n01_04
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
