Prevalence and predictive factors of elder mistreatment in Chinese migrant families

Abstract Objectives To examine the prevalence of and identify the predictive factors for elder mistreatment (EM) in Chinese migrant families. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 489 rural migrant elderly were recruited using multistage sampling technique from communities in Wenzhou city between June 2020 and October 2020. All participants completed the Mini-Cog, and then data were collected in a survey using the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey Questionnaire, Abuser's Dependency Scale, the Friendship Scale (FS), Intergenerational Ambivalence Scale, Filial Piety Index, the Assessment Tool of Domestic Elder Abuse, and a demographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression were carried out to analyze the data. Results The prevalences of physical mistreatment, psychological mistreatment, neglect, economic mistreatment, and social mistreatment among the migrant elderly were 1.23%, 20.65%, 22.50%, 0.61%, and 9.41%, respectively. Significant predictive factors were migrant elderlies’ mental health status (β = −0.118, P < 0.01), adult children's filial piety (FP) (β = −0.245, P < 0.001), and intergene rational ambivalence (β = 0.365, P < 0.001). Conclusions EM was common among the migrant elderly. Predictive factors for EM in Chinese migrant families were identified. The findings could be useful in developing nursing interventions to promote migrant elderlies’ mental health, uphold their children's FP, and harmonize intergenerational relationship to avoid EM.