Giving meaning to internalized violence throughout life by older adults living in rural areas.
Aline Balandis Costa, Maria Aparecida Salci, Francielle Renata Danielli Martins Marques and 2 others
PMID 38896659WHAT IT FOUND
Six rural older adults described lifelong family violence, mostly psychological, physical, financial and sexual.
They often stayed silent because of fear, shame and family pressure; some sought safety by moving to urban areas or gaining financial independence.
Key findings
01All six participants reported intrafamily violence, with psychological abuse most frequent, followed by physical, financial and sexual abuse.
02Participants often stayed silent because of fear of helplessness, social embarrassment, and belief that violence was normal for women or older adults.
03Some described leaving rural areas, gaining financial independence, imposing limits, or physically confronting aggressors as ways to cope with violence.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only six older adults from one rural Family Health Strategy service were interviewed, so the themes cannot be taken as representative of all rural older adults. The study did not test any intervention or measure whether strategies reduced violence. Violence topics carry stigma and shame, which may have limited what participants said. Findings come from one rural neighborhood in Paraná, Brazil, and may not apply elsewhere.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that moving to urban areas, financial independence, or confronting aggressors is an effective way to stop elder abuse. These were reported strategies from six participants in a qualitative study, and no outcome was measured.