Reflections on researching interpersonal violence against older adults: obstacles and opportunities

Hannah Bows

Chapter 32 in Handbook of Sensitive Research in the Social Sciences, 2025, pp 479-490 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Research on the abuse of older adults has increased in recent years, but significant challenges remain in conducting research in this space. This chapter provides reflections on my experience of researching domestic and sexual abuse of older adults over the last ten years. I consider some of the main challenges—and opportunities—that I have encountered along the way, and the progress that has been made in this field since I began my studies. In particular, I examine some of the difficulties in terminology, concepts, and definitions of abuse of older adults that can make it difficult to find the right home for the research and create tensions when communicating the research to academics and non-academics. I also reflect on the methodological challenges associated with the recruitment of participants and access to data more generally on the scale and scope of abuse of older adults. I also consider some of the risks and benefits of being a younger female academic when conducting qualitative research, especially interviews with older victim-survivors of abuse.

Keywords: Violence against women and girls; Interpersonal violence; Feminist methodologies; Older adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035315222
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