Abstract
To identify, among elderly people victims of violence, factors associated with depressive symptoms and cognitive function. This was a cross-sectional study carried out with 56 elderly people classified in situation of violence. To do so it was used the Brazil Old Age Shedule (BOAS), the Conflict Tactics Scales Form R, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Mini-mental State examination (MMSE). Depressive symptoms were more predominant in elderly men, over 70 years old, without partner, illiterate, with no job, receiving up to 1 minimum wage and who lived alone; and the cognitive deficit prevailed in women, over 70 years old, without partner, illiterate, who did not work, receiving up to 1 minimum wage and who lived alone. Among the elderly population victim of violence, lack of a partner and cognitive impairment were associated to depressive symptoms; and finding themselves living alone, with no partner and being illiterate were associated to cognitive deficit.
Highlights
Longevity is a worldwide phenomenon, and the increase in the elderly population has contributed to very significant demographic changes[1]
Among the individuals studied the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 57.1% (n = 32), and cognitive deficit, 32.1% (n = 18)
The prevalence of depressive symptoms among elderly people in a situation of violence was 57.1%, it was associated with the elderly person who declared themselves without a partner and showed a tendency to compromise more those who presented cognitive deficit
Summary
Longevity is a worldwide phenomenon, and the increase in the elderly population has contributed to very significant demographic changes[1]. The aging process associated with unpreparedness of families and society to deal with those changes revealed an increase in the occurrence of violence against the elderly in developed countries, ranging from 4.6% and 44.6%(4). Changes in physical and mental capacity, which occur during the aging process, associated with disrespect and social inequality, contribute to events of violence against the elderly[10]. This phenomenon triggers physical and psychological illnesses such as: psychosomatic pathologies, progressive attenuation of physical defenses, post-traumatic disorder, sleep disorders, suicide attempts, nutritional deficiencies, depression, and others[11]. In a survey conducted in the United Kingdom with family members of demented elderly about 30% presented violent behavior, registering that the most perpetrated psychological violence has occurred through verbal aggressions[24,25]
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