Elder Abuse in Asian Context: Is Co-Residence with Children Beneficial For Old Age?

We highlight a crucial and often overlooked issue of elder abuse in the context of population aging, particularly in developing nations and Asian countries. The fact that elder abuse is under-reported globally and a concerning trend that needs urgent address. The cultural significance of filial piety in Asian countries adds a layer of complexity to the issue, as shame and fear of losing support or being isolated often prevent the reporting of elder abuse cases from victims. The expectation that children will live with and care for their parents in old age, deeply rooted in cultural traditions, creates a potential risk for abuse within familial settings in Asia.

Therefore, rather than addressing the qualities of the elderly that may put them in danger of abuse, we focus on elder abuse perpetrated by their offspring in the setting of living with children. The child's education is one of potential characteristics that may readily be analyzed for elder abuse. Assuming that the frequency of elder abuse within households is linked to the bargaining power of cohabiting children, particularly those with higher education. In the context of filial piety, it suggests that children with advanced education levels possess greater leverage to negotiate for the well-being of their parents, thereby lowering the risk of abuse towards elderly parents within the same household. This expectation holds even if the perpetrators of abuse are the elderly's children, as higher-educated offspring are anticipated to exhibit lower instances of abuse compared to their less-educated counterparts.

A new publication from our research team reveals that the higher elders’ children’s education, the lower the chance that the elderly experience domestic physical and mental abuse in the household. This statement challenges the conventional belief that living with one's children in old age is universally beneficial, exposing a hidden cost in terms of potential exposure to abuse. It underscores the need for further research on elder maltreatment across nations, specifically examining various living arrangements with elders' children.

Further reading:

Dang, T. N. H., & Rukumnuaykit, P. (2023). Elder Abuse by Household Members and Education of Elders’ Own Children Living in the Same Household: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam. Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, 9. https://doi.org/10.1177/23780231231196788