Effects of elder dependency, care burden, and family conflict on the primary caregiver s abusive behavior toward the elderly

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among elder dependency, care burden, family conflict, and abusive behavior toward the elderly using the causal model analysis. The sample in this study was 420 primary caregivers who cared for older family members who lacked physical and cognitive functioning. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships among variables. The research findings were as follows: First of all, it was found based on the SEM analysis that the family conflict increased as elder dependency and care burden increased. In addition, as family conflict increased, the level of the abusive behavior toward the elderly increased. Secondly, elder dependency and care burden did not directly influence the level of abusive behavior toward the elderly; however, they indirectly affected the level of the abusive behavior toward the elderly through the mediator, family conflict. Implications for social work practice and social welfare policy were addressed.