Judgments About Elder Abuse and College Students' Relationship with Grandparents

Abstract

Using brief scenarios describing adult caregiver/elder parent interactions, college students made judgments about how justifiable aggressive behavior by caregivers were, the abusiveness of these behaviors, and the abusiveness of the behavior of the elderly parent. The extent of students' contact with their grandparents was obtained. Results indicate that judgments of abusiveness are context specific, and that senile or agitated elders were viewed as more abusive, and behaviors against them as more justified, than were more “helpless” elders. In addition, results indicate that students' involvement with grandparents has an effect on the judgments of abusiveness and the justifiability of caregiver behaviors toward elderly mothers. It is suggested that programs that promote interaction between younger and older persons should be encouraged in order to develop a heightened understanding between these age groups and to help relieve generational tensions that may exist.

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