Psychological and Social Predictors of Neglect in Older Adults: Insights into Gender and Residential Area Differences

In the current Portuguese population context 21% of people are aged 65 or over. This demographic phenomenon leads to a series of challenges like being exposed to. This study aimed to evaluate how resilience, loneliness, social support, sense of community, and ageism relate to neglect indicators according to gender and according to area of residence. The final sample consisted of 1101 Portuguese older adults aged 65 or over. The results showed that higher ageism and lower social support correlated with increased neglect in older women, while higher ageism and lower resilience were predictors in men. In rural areas, ageism and loneliness were key factors, whereas in urban areas, ageism, loneliness, and lower social support were significant. The multifaceted nature of neglect among Portuguese older adults is underscored, revealing the critical influence of ageism, gender and area of residence.