Association of elderly abuse and social adjustment: a case study of Bargarh district in Odisha, India

This study investigates association of elderly abuse and social adjustment in rural settings in Bargarh district of Odisha, India. While analyzing the relationship between elderly abuse and social adjustment underlined socio-economic factors (age, education, living arrangement, gender, education, income and marital status) and individual status variable (physical health, mental health and family relationship) are introduced as a moderator. This study is conducted among 360 elderly (60+), including both male and females, distributed across 18 primary sampling units (PSUs) through multistage sampling design. Results indicated decreased cohesion and adaptability in socio –economic factors and individual status increases perception of social isolation, and poorer social adjustment among abused elderly. Elderly who were abused showed a low social adjustment score and vice versa. , These pattern of evidence suggest that the abused elderly who had low social adjustment score and lived in social isolation may lead to depression, hopelessness, unhappiness shame and guilt leading to stress which in turn effects their health in longer run.
Keywords: Abuse, social adjustment, socio-economic factors, elderly