SynthesisBMC public health2025
Elder abuse without borders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Correlates of Elder Abuse in São Paulo, Brazil: The Roles of Age, Depression, and Religion.Journal of religion and health · 2026Article
- Stakeholders' perceptions on guidelines to prevent abuse of older people in Norway: a qualitative analysis.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- Detecting Elder Abuse in an Italian Emergency Department: A Six-Year Retrospective Study and Implications for Systematic Screening.Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Primary Care's Untapped Role in Elder Mistreatment Identification and Response.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2026Article
- Development of a risk assessment model for elder abuse vulnerability among ethnic minority older adults in Hunan, China: a cross-sectional study.International journal for equity in health · 2026Article
- Prevalence and risk factors of abuse against older adult women: A cross-sectional community study in Eastern Andalusia, Spain.PloS one · 2026Article
- [Risk of violence against older adults: the role of social interactions, social support, and quality of life in the EpiFloripa Aging longitudinal study].Cadernos de saude publica · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAcross continents and cultures, elder abuse remains a silent crisis, hidden behind closed doors. Vulnerable older adults face neglect, exploitation, and harm, often from those they trust most. Despite its devastating impact, global awareness and intervention efforts remain inadequate. This study unveils the true scale of the issue, urging immediate action to protect the aging population.
methodsWe searched multiple databases, including Medline, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, International Scientific Indexing, Global Health, Global Index Medicus, Embase, and Google Scholar in December 2024, with an updated search in January 2025. We included observational studies published from 2000 to 2025. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The effect size was pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was explored using Cochrane's Q statistic (chi-square) and inverse variance (I²). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the influence of individual studies on the overall pooled estimates. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg's and Egger's regression tests.
resultA total of 94 studies from 35 countries were included (n = 776,044). The pooled prevalence of elder abuse was 27.6% (95% CI: 23.5-31.6). By type, emotional/psychological abuse was most prevalent (20.9%, 95% CI: 14.8-26.9), followed by neglect (19.3%, 95% CI: 12.8-25.8), financial/material exploitation (11.7%, 95% CI: 8.5-14.9), verbal abuse (11.0%, 95% CI: 5.5-16.5), physical abuse (7.9%, 95% CI: 5.0-10.8), and sexual abuse (1.5%, 95% CI: 0.7-2.2). Upper-middle-income countries had the highest prevalence (37.0%, 95% CI: 28.0-46.0), with South America (42.0%, 95% CI: 14.0-71.0) and Asia (36.0%, 95% CI: 27.0-45.0) reporting the highest regional rates. Institutional settings showed higher prevalence (29.0%, 95% CI: 20.0-38.0) than community-based studies (27.0%, 95% CI: 23.0-32.0).
conclusionThis meta-analysis reveals that over one-quarter of older adults worldwide experience abuse, with emotional and psychological abuse being the most prevalent. Institutional settings and upper-middle-income countries report significantly higher abuse rates, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Sexual abuse remains underreported, likely due to stigma, though its low prevalence may still indicate a hidden issue. Regional variations suggest cultural and socioeconomic factors significantly influence abuse patterns. These findings emphasize the urgent need for global screening tools, institutional staff training, community awareness programs, and policy reforms prioritizing elder protection.
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