Factors compelling family caregivers to commit physical or emotional abuse toward elderly persons requiring care

Abstract

  The aim of the present study was to elucidate factors related to the compulsion of family caregivers to commit physical or emotional abuse toward persons requiring care in order to investigate methods for preventing elder abuse. A questionnaire survey was conducted in August 2007 on family caregivers of users of visiting nurse stations in Prefecture A, and a total of 300 responses were analyzed. A total of 34.0% of family caregivers reported feeling compelled to commit physical or emotional abuse. Likelihood ratio test using multiple logistic regression analysis based on the backward selection method showed that the following factors were related to compulsion: high Zarit caregiver burden interview scores (odds ratio, 1.051; 95% confidence interval, 1.034-1.068), and a history of stroke (odds ratio, 2.054; 95% confidence interval, 1.192-3.539). Reduction of overall caregiver burden and investigation of care methods for persons with a history of stroke are necessary to alleviate the compulsion among family caregivers to commit physical or emotional abuse.