Interpersonal Risk Factors of Elder Abuse in Iran (A Qualitative Study)

Abstract

The WHO suggests that different societies should investigate the causes of elder abuse in their culture. This study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for elder abuse in Iran using an ecological approach at the microsystem level. This qualitative research had a direct content analysis approach with 66 older adults and caregivers as participants. The data were collected using interviews. Analysis of data was conducted simultaneously with data collection, using the MAXQDA10 software, and results were reported based on Elo’s recommendation. Two main categories of data analysis were obtained, Issues related to care recipients and care and caregiver’s challenges. This study was unique owing to its extensiveness and attention to the underlying factors of abuse in the socio-cultural context of Iran. Results can help health policymakers design strategies to prevent elder abuse. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2023.