Older persons affected by violence and abuse

Data, analyses and survey instruments

Gewalt_BMSGPK

PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR

Kai Leichsenring

PROJECT TEAM AT THE EUROPEAN CENTRE

Selma Kadi, Mirjam Pot, Niki Kalavrezou

PROJECT PARTNERS

  • Austrian Interdisciplinary Platform on Ageing (ÖPIA)
  • Institut für Konfliktforschung IFK, Austria

BACKGROUND

Violence and abuse of older persons has partially emerged from its taboo area in recent years, which has resulted in increased debates about the definition of violence. Comprehensive definitions range from discrimination based on age, age-related limitations and vulnerability to loneliness and social isolation through to criminally relevant experiences of violence among older people and their avoidance in various settings. “Elder abuse, neglect and maltreatment”, as circumscribed in the anglo-saxon context, but there is still a general lack of research interest and existing research data on the topic. The risk of experiencing at least one of the different forms of violence increases with age, but also with regard to gender, dependency and other intersectional factors. This may be a pragmatic reason why surveys are often limited to certain target groups, settings or forms of violence. The challenge therefore remains to operationalize a comprehensive concept of violence for a representative sample of society, drawing on international theoretical models and practical implementation examples.

AIMS

  • Based on national and international literature (“scoping review”) and taking into account international discourses (structures, experiences), the topic of “violence against older people” will be systematically analysed to clarify and address questions about a comprehensive definition and its operationalization.
  • Existing data collection instruments and data collected in Austria are systematically identified, summarized and critically analyzed (including data gaps).
  • Survey methods and instruments for quantitative and qualitative primary data collection in various settings are developed based on the previous research steps and tested in the field.
  • Conclusions and requirements for the systematic collection of primary data are discussed from a methodological, economic and (social) policy perspective.

METHODS

  • Scoping review and document analysis
  • Meta analysis of existing data
  • Questionnaire design (guidelines for qualitative interviews and survey questions)
  • Focus groups
  • Testing of questionnaires

ACTIVITIES/MILESTONES

  • Interim report
  • Advisory Board Meetings
  • Survey design
  • Final report

The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research supports the Sustainable Development Goals

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UN SDG Good Health and Well-Being
UN SDG Reduced Inequalities

FUNDED BY

Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, care and Consumer Protection Austria

PROJECT DURATION

10/2024 – 06/2026