'Invisible hence inexistent?' : sexual violence in older adults

Abstract

Objective: Although sexual violence (SV) is increasingly recognised as a major public health problem, older people are ignored in policies and practices on SV. Research on prevalence and impact of SV in older adults is limited and Belgian figures on the subject are non-existent. This mixed-methods study aimed to better understand the nature, magnitude and mental health impact of SV in older adults in Belgium. Methods: We conducted face-to-face interviews trough structured questionnaires with 513 older adults (70+) across Belgium and 100 old age psychiatry patients. Quantitative data were triangulated with qualitative data from 15 in-depth interviews with older SV victims. Results: Over 44% of Belgian older adults and 57% of old age psychiatry patients experienced SV during their lifetime, 8% and 7% respectively in the past 12-months. Lifetime exposure to SV was associated with depression (p=0.001), anxiety (p=0.001) and PTSD in older adults with chronic disease/disability (p=0.002) or lower education level (p<0.001). A minority of victims (40%) disclosed their experiences to their informal network and 4% sought professional help. Older victims are willing to share their experiences, but ask health care workers to initiate the conversation. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of recognising older adults as a risk group for SV and the need for tailored care for older victims. Health care professionals working with older adults need to be qualitatively trained to initiate a conversation around SV and its mental health impact in old age through training, screening tools and care procedures.