Negative consequences of physical abuse of elder people on the perpetrators - empirical evidence from Zambia

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explore the negative consequences of physical abuse of elder people on the perpetrators by using the perceptions and conceptions of community leaders in rural and urban Zambia. On the basis of the qualitative research with community leaders involved in addressing the problem of elder abuse in Zambia, it is evident that physical abuse of elder people has serious negative consequences on perpetrators. These include arrests, fine, imprisonment, stigma, leaving the community and negative psychological effects such as fear. Since social gerontologists, social workers and public health workers are among the main frontline workers in addressing the problem of elder abuse, this article argues that these revelations have serious implications on social gerontology, social work and public health education, practice and research as well as on future research with regard to the global phenomenon of physical abuse of elder people. This is because the revelations made in this article suggest new ways of thinking about the problem of physical abuse of elder people. Thus the main field of application of this article is social gerontology, social work and public health.