Life Course Theory, the Web of Violence, and Elder Mistreatment: Insights From the Better Together Couples’ Study
Elizabeth Avent, Renee Garbe, Laura Mosqueda, Zachary Gassoumis

TL;DR
This study shows how elder mistreatment is linked to a lifetime of abuse and violence, emphasizing the need for long-term, trauma-informed interventions.
Contribution
The study applies life course theory and the web of violence framework to reveal how past abuse influences elder mistreatment in caregiving relationships.
Findings
At least one partner in caregiving dyads had a history of abuse.
Past violence shaped how individuals recognized and defined mistreatment.
Abuse histories influenced how caregivers navigated caregiving for abusive partners.
Abstract
Elder mistreatment (EM) interventions often focus on mitigating immediate risk factors for perpetration and victimization, yet they frequently overlook the broader patterns of violence and abuse across the lifespan. Drawing on the web of violence framework and life course theory, this study underscores how EM is rarely an isolated occurrence but rather part of an interconnected trajectory of polyvictimization, intergenerational transmission of violence, and the co-occurrence of multiple forms of abuse over time. The Better Together Couples’ Study applies these theoretical frameworks to examine how early-life family violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) shape experiences of EM within dementia caregiving dyads. Qualitative interviews with caregivers revealed three key findings: (1) at least one partner in the dyad had a history of abuse, (2) past experiences of violence influenced…
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Taxonomy
TopicsElder Abuse and Neglect · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
