Journal of elder abuse & neglectJun 1, 2018

How common elder mistreatment is in Singapore and what factors are linked to it

Updated Mar 29, 2026

Abstract

The prevalence rate of elder mistreatment in Singapore is 8.3%.

Psychological and physical abuse between family members is associated with increased vulnerability to mistreatment among older adults.
A social environment characterized by loneliness may contribute to the risk of elder mistreatment.
Mistreated older adults reported more symptoms of depression compared to their non-mistreated counterparts.

Simplified

The current study attempts to identify the prevalence rate of and risk factors associated with elder mistreatment in Singapore, a multi-ethnic nation in South-East Asia. Information on elder mistreatment was collected from 400 non-randomly selected cognitively intact older adults in a residential area of Singapore. Items on mistreatment were adopted from the Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test and the Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale. Standardized scales on activities of daily living, loneliness, and items on violence between family members were administered. The prevalence rate of mistreatment was 8.3%. A family environment characterized by psychological and physical abuse between family members and a social environment characterized by loneliness increased the vulnerability of older adults to mistreatment. Older adults who were mistreated reported more depression symptoms than those who were not.

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