AI Insight
This cross-sectional study of 502 rural older adults in China identified three distinct levels of psychological abuse using latent profile analysis: low (41.2%), moderate (52.0%), and high (6.8%). The research found that 88.8% of participants showed possible cognitive impairment, and statistical analysis revealed a significant association between cognitive impairment and membership in higher psychological abuse groups. The study demonstrates that psychological abuse exists on a spectrum among rural Chinese elderly populations, with cognitive impairment being a key risk factor.
Why it matters
The findings highlight a critical public health issue affecting rural elderly populations in China, where nearly 9 in 10 older adults show signs of cognitive impairment and over half experience moderate to high levels of psychological abuse. This research provides evidence for developing targeted intervention programs that prioritize cognitively impaired older adults in rural areas to prevent and reduce psychological abuse.
Understand the Science
AimsThis study aimed to identify different levels of psychological abuse among rural older adults in China using latent profile analysis and to examine the association between these levels and possible cognitive impairment.MethodsThe study used a convenience sampling method. From July to October 2025, we conducted a cross-sectional study of psychological abuse among rural older adults in Puyang City, Henan Province, China. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Elder Psychological Abuse Scale in Domestic Setting, the Chinese version of Ascertain Dementia (AD8), and the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify groups of rural older adults based on dimensions of psychological abuse. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the association between possible cognitive impairment and psychological abuse group membership.ResultsA total of 502 valid questionnaires were included in the final analysis. Among rural older adults, 88.8% (n = 446) were identified as having possible cognitive impairment, and 11.2% (n = 56) were not. Three different levels of psychological abuse were identified among rural older adults: low level of psychological abuse group (Group 1, n = 207, 41.2%), moderate level of psychological abuse group (Group 2, n = 261, 52.0%), and high level of psychological abuse group (Group 3, n = 34, 6.8%). Multinomial regression analyses showed that possible cognitive impairment was a significant factor associated with psychological abuse group membership (p < 0.05).ConclusionThree different levels of psychological abuse were identified among rural older adults, showing significant differences in possible cognitive impairment across group membership. Therefore, future intervention programs should prioritize rural older adults, particularly those with possible cognitive impairment, to implement effective strategies for reducing psychological abuse.