Reay A M, Browne K D
Department of Clinical Psychology, Walton Hospital, Chesterfield, UK.
Aging Ment Health. 2001 Feb;5(1):56-62. doi: 10.1080/13607860020020654.
This study investigates the prevalence of, and differences in, risk factor characteristics in a sample of two select populations of carers, one of which physically abused their elderly dependants and one of which neglected them. Nineteen carers (nine who had physically abused and 10 who had neglected their elderly relatives), who were referred to clinical psychology by either their general practitioner or their psychiatrist, were invited to take part in this study. A detailed history of risk factors was obtained, including history of alcohol dependency, type and history of mental ill health, history of maltreatment earlier in life, who they were caring for, how long they had been a carer and whether they felt isolated as a carer. Subjects were then given five assessments to determine whether there were any differences between the two groups. These were the Conflict Tactic Scale, Strain Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Cost of Care Index. An examination of the risk factors suggests that heavy alcohol consumption and past childhood abuse by fathers were likely to lead to physical abuse. Significantly higher conflict and depression scores were also present in the physical abuse group, while the neglect group had significantly higher anxiety scores. It is suggested that these findings should be incorporated into an assessment of future risk of abuse or neglect by the carer.
本研究调查了两组特定护理人员样本中风险因素特征的患病率及差异，其中一组对其年老的受抚养者进行身体虐待，另一组则对其进行忽视。19名护理人员（9名身体虐待者和10名忽视者）被其全科医生或精神科医生转介至临床心理学领域，受邀参与本研究。获取了详细的风险因素病史，包括酒精依赖史、精神健康问题的类型和病史、早年受虐待史、他们所照顾的对象、担任护理人员的时长以及他们是否感到作为护理人员很孤立。然后，对受试者进行了五项评估，以确定两组之间是否存在差异。这些评估分别是冲突策略量表、压力量表、贝克抑郁量表、贝克焦虑量表和护理成本指数。对风险因素的检查表明，大量饮酒和童年时期遭受父亲虐待可能会导致身体虐待。身体虐待组的冲突和抑郁得分也显著更高，而忽视组的焦虑得分显著更高。建议将这些研究结果纳入对护理人员未来虐待或忽视风险评估中。
