Perceived Quality of Life following Elder Mistreatment in Rural India.

Objectives: Using resilience theory, we examined multiple risks (individual, familial, and mistreatment characteristics) and promotive factors (mastery and social support) associated with perceived quality of life following mistreatment and tested two competing models, compensatory and protective models, to explain the role of promotive factors in the mistreatment-wellbeing linkage. Method: Face-to-face interviews were conducted by administering standardized instruments to 897 randomly selected older adults in rural Tamil Nadu, India. Information from 187 older adults, who, in the interview had reported mistreatment in the past 1 year formed the analysis. Quality of life following mistreatment was measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Mistreatment was measured by an adapted version of the Conflict Tactics Scale. Results: Being single, hailing from a low income family, experiencing high levels of relationship strain, and experiencing more than one type of mistreatment were associated with decreased quality of life. High levels of mastery and social support were associated with high levels of quality of life following mistreatment. There was support for both compensatory and protective-reactive models of resilience. Some of the resources that counteract the negative effects of adversities and mistreatment appear to be effective only at lower levels of mistreatment. Discussion: Quality of life following mistreatment was influenced by multiple risk and promotive factors, results that are consistent with resilience theory. Concerted efforts must be undertaken to bolster protective factors and minimize risk factors to enhance quality of life following mistreatment.

Motivational Interviewing and the Transtheoretical Model of Change: Under-Explored Resources for Suicide Intervention.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a robust evidence-based intervention that has been used to evoke intrinsic motivation to change behaviors. MI as an intervention focuses on facilitating movement through the stages of the transtheoretical model of change. A study by Coombs et al. (Substance abuse treatment and the stages of change: Selecting and planning interventions, Guilford Press, New York, 2001) demonstrated that suicidal individuals move through such stages toward suicidal behavior, yet research and applications of MI for suicide have been minimal. In hopes of generating increased exploration of MI for suicidality, this article reviews the theoretical rationale and existing empirical research on applications of MI with suicidal individuals. Potential uses of MI in suicide risk assessment/crisis intervention, as well as an adjunct to longer-term treatment, are discussed.

Elder abuse and barriers to help seeking in Chennai, India: a qualitative study.

This qualitative study attempts to understand why older persons abused by their family members in India do not seek help. In-depth interviews over three visits were conducted with six adults aged 65 years and above who had been physically abused by their sons/daughters-in-law. The interviews were transcribed and themes identified using a thematic analysis method. The barriers preventing a person from seeking help were service-related (accessibility, lack of trust); religious (Karma); family (deleterious effects on family, family members' responses to help seeking); and individual (socioeconomic dependency, self-blame). The unique findings that surfaced were fear of losing one's identity by losing one's family, attributing abuse to past sins, and concern over not attaining salvation if one's sons did not perform funeral rites. The authors propose a checklist to explore and assess the barriers to seeking help. Recommendations for geroprofessionals in overcoming barriers include implementing outreach programs and changing the misconceptions regarding Karma.