Stressors social support and elder mistreatment

Objectives: This study sought to examine the pathways through which interpersonal relationship strain and loneliness (stressors) influence elder mistreatment. In addition, the study tested the buffer effects of social support within the stressor-mistreatment relationship.

Method: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 897 randomly selected older adults in rural Tamil Nadu, India. Mediation and moderation models were tested using the process module.

Results: Results showed that, in addition to the direct effects, interpersonal problems also influenced mistreatment via loneliness (partially mediating model). In the moderation model, social support buffered the influence of interpersonal strain on mistreatment (unconditional direct effect) and also buffered the influence of interpersonal strain on mistreatment through loneliness (conditional indirect effects).

Discussion: Intervention on mistreatment should involve elimination of risk factors and strengthening of social resources.