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Park J, Wilber KH, Aranda MP, Wu S, Oh H, Jang Y. Mental Distress Posed by the Co-Experience of Elder Mistreatment and Social Isolation: A Study with Older Korean Americans. JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK 2025:1-11. [PMID: 39846464 DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2025.2455639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2025] [Indexed: 01/24/2025]
Abstract
This study examined the concurrent effects of social isolation and elder mistreatment on mental distress in older Korean Americans (n= 2,122, Mean age = 73.4). Approximately 44% experienced mistreatment, with 32% exposed to a single type and 12% to multiple types (polyvictimization). Social isolation and mental distress rates were about 24% and 30%, respectively. Both factors independently affected mental distress, with a significant interaction observed. The odds of experiencing mental distress were substantially greater when polyvictimization occurred in social isolation. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to support for those who are mistreated and lack social protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyoung Park
- Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Kathleen H Wilber
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Maria P Aranda
- Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Shinyi Wu
- Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hans Oh
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Yuri Jang
- Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Social Welfare, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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