Elder Abuse: A Comparative Review of Definitions, Typologies, and Prevalence in Western, Arab, and Algerian Contexts

Abstract

Elder abuse is a global public health concern that manifests across diverse cultural, social, and economic contexts. This article provides a comparative review of elder abuse in Western, Arab, and Algerian societies, examining conceptual definitions, typologies, theoretical explanatory models, and prevalence data. The review identifies six primary forms of abuse: physical, psychological, sexual, material and economic, rights violations, and neglect. Three theoretical frameworks are discussed: the psychological model, which emphasizes perpetrator pathology, the social model, which highlights environmental stressors, and the integrative ecological model, which incorporates multiple interacting factors. Empirical findings from Western societies (the United States, Israel, France, Canada, and Japan) are compared with available data from Arab countries (Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, the Gulf States, and Saudi Arabia) and Algeria. The analysis reveals that while elder abuse is documented across all contexts, research in Arab societies remains limited and largely theoretical. The article further examines the Arab Strategy for Older Adults (2019–2029) and relevant international policy frameworks, including the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (2002). Findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive research approaches and improved data collection to accurately assess the magnitude of elder abuse, particularly in Arab and Algerian contexts, where official statistics may underestimate prevalence due to underreporting.