August 19, 2008 -- About 13 percent of elderly Americans are mistreated, according to study findings published in the current issue of the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences.

The paper, “Elder Mistreatment in the U.S.: Prevalence Estimates from a Nationally-Representative Study,” analyzed data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP), a 2005-2006 survey of a random sample of 3,005 community-dwelling adults, ages 57 through 85, for which NORC collected the data, including biomarkers, and biomeasures. The paper's authors include NORC Chairman Edward O. Laumann, NORC Research Scientist Sarah Leitsch, and NORC Research Associate Linda J. Waite, who also serves as Principal Investigator for the NSHAP.

Regarding mistreatment, respondents were asked about the past 12 months and answered three questions:

• “Is there anyone who insults you or puts you down?” (verbal);
• “Is there anyone who has taken your money or belongings without your OK or prevented you from getting them, even when you ask?”
• "Is there anyone who hits, kicks, slaps or throws things at you?” (physical).

Of the people reporting verbal mistreatment, 26 percent identified their spouse or romantic partner as being responsible, 15 percent said their children mistreated them verbally, while the remainder said that a friend, neighbor, co-worker or boss was responsible. Among people who reported financial mistreatment, 57 percent reported someone other than a spouse, parent or child, usually another relative, was taking advantage of them.

The NSHAP is supported by several components of the NIH, including the National Institute on Aging, the Office of Research on Women’s Health, the Office of AIDS Research and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research.

Read the full press release on the University of Chicago News Office site.