Research on elder mistreatment in Chinese society: An update

While much of the literature on elder mistreatment is developed in non-Chinese cultures, it remains unclear as to whether the present definition accurately reflects the meaning of "elder mistreatment" in the Chinese lens. It is essential to develop a culturally relevant definition for elder mistreatment. 2. Elder mistreatment is prevalent in Chinese societies as it is in other parts of the world. 3. Compared with older Chinese who are intact, those who were subjected to verbal or physical abuse reported higher levels of somatic complaints, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and social dysfunctions. 4. There is some preliminary evidence for the applicability of various theoretical models developed in non-Chinese populations on the Chinese population, including the caregiver stress model, the social exchange theory, and the social learning theory. It would be desirable to incorporate Chinese cultural values into existing theoretical frameworks. 5. Research on elder abuse in Chinese societies is complicated by the lack of valid and reliable instruments in the Chinese language.