RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examine the association between multimorbidity and psychological distress and to what extent elder abuse mediates the association. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional nationally representative data from the "Building Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India (BKPAI)." Multivariate logistic regression was used to understand the association between multimorbidity and psychological distress. We used Karlson-Holm- Breen (KHB) method to understand the role of elder abuse in mediating the association between multimorbidity and psychological distress. RESULTS: Older adults who ever experienced abuse (OR = 1.92 95%CI = 1.62, 2.26, p < .001) or in last one month (OR = 2.09 95%CI = 1.65, 2.64, p < .001) reported higher odds of psychological distress. Further, older adults with four or more chronic diseases are thrice more likely to report psychological distress (OR = 3.03 95%CI = 2.38, 3.82, p < .001). The results further suggest the mediating role of abuse on the association between multimorbidity and psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest the role of elder abuse on the association between multimorbidity and psychological distress among older population in India. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Creating an environment to reduce the abuse among older adults who have multimorbidity will be essential to reducing the psychological distress among older adults in India.