FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RISK OF VIOLENCE IN OLDER ADULTS ATTENDED IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
Associated Factors; Risk of Violence; Quality of Life; Mental Health; Aged; Primary Health Care.
In light of rapid population aging, violence against older adults has become a serious public health problem, globally affecting one in six individuals. This observational, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach analyzed the relationship between quality of life (QoL), physical frailty, cognitive performance, and the risk of violence in 260 older adults attended in Primary Health Care in Santa Cruz (RN), Brazil. The data, analyzed via SPSS, confirm that the risk of violence is not restricted to sociodemographic profiles but is deeply linked to clinical, cognitive, and emotional health indicators. Multimorbidity and physical frailty emerge as central predictors; older adults with four or more chronic diseases present a five times higher risk of suffering abuse due to limited capacity for reaction and seeking support. In the cognitive sphere, changes in immediate memory, spatial orientation, and verbal language facilitate victimization, creating a vicious cycle where dependency hinders the reporting of abuse, and the violence itself accelerates mental decline. Furthermore, low scores in mental health and emotional aspects increase the risk, with depressed older adults presenting a three times higher probability of experiencing violence. It is concluded that the screening for violence must move beyond variables such as sex and age, focusing on the interdependence between functional autonomy, cognitive status, and psychological support. Understanding violence as both a cause and consequence of health deterioration is essential for prevention strategies and integral care in old age.