Vulnerability to Harm and Abuse: Personal and Social Factors

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This report explores factors contributing to vulnerability to harm and abuse.

[health]
2019

The factors that may contribute to a person becoming more vulnerable to harm or abuse.
There are factors which make an individual more vulnerable to abuse and harm. These can be
group be into two broad categories personal characteristics and social or situational
characteristics.
Personal characteristics- if the individual has any mental disability like dementia or Alzheimer.
Individuals who do not have the mental capacity for taking decisions for their own safety and
have a fluctuating mental capacity which is linked to mental illness or any other conditions are
also at a risk of abuse and harm as suggested by Boland, B., Burnage, J., & Chowhan, H. (2013).
The mental incapacity and low mental ability makes one prone to abuse. The mental illness can
be related to various inborn conditions. Those individuals who suffer from communication
difficulties or are physically dependent on other individuals for their care and activities of their
daily lives are also likely to become victim of harm and abuse. Childhood experience of abuse
and low self-esteem in an individual also make him more prone to harm and abuse by others.
Prior experience of abuse also makes an individual more vulnerable to be abused by others.
Individuals who are isolated from others and no sense of their self-worth are at an increased risk
of being abused by other. Homeless, children, mentally ill people and old people who are unable
to communicate verbally or are medically dependent on others also face the risk of harm and
abuse by others as pointed out by Phair, L., & Heath, H. (2012). It happens because when there is
nobody to provide protection to them they become prey to abusers to attack such vulnerable
people as it is easier for them and it is not challenging.
Social or situational factors- these are those factors which are related to the situation of the
person. The individuals who are cared for in any care settings and are dependent on others are
more likely to be abused by the abusers. The individuals who are not getting the right kinds of
care which is needed by them and the right amount of care also makes them prone to be abused
by the abusers. The social exclusion and isolation due to various reasons and makes them the
right candidate for attack by the abusers. There are also social stigma attached to certain
individuals and are often discriminated from the society which allows the abusers to attack them
as they are less of a challenge. There is also lack of information and support for these people
which makes them vulnerable to the incidences of harm and abuse. They become victims for the
anti-social behavior. Those individuals who are depended on their carer and are living with them

are also at an increased risk of being harmed and abused. There are chances of abuse which
occurs primarily because of stress and resentment in cases when the carer feels that they cannot
cope with the demanding situations. The dependent individuals can also be harmed if they are
looked after by a staff who does not have the right training or is not under any supervision at the
workplace or are supported by other people. The carers may have personal problems or may be
stressed or do not like to work in a care setting can also increase their potential to harm the
individuals that they are looking after as pointed out by Cooney, C., & Howard, R. (1995). The
individuals who are not mobile have dementia are confused and are challenging or aggressive are
also at an increased risk of being abused by abusers. Frustrated carer can also harm these
individuals when they are not able to support themselves in demanding situations as suggested
by Schiamberg, L. B., et al. (2011). The domestic violence has a major role in increasing the
harm or abuse to the individuals as an unhealthy relationship between individuals and their
spouse and parents is more likely to involve harm and abuse. In most of the case the perpetrators
of abuse are the people who are the caregivers or are the closest friends to the victims. There are
groups of people who have an increase vulnerability to be abused and these are old aged people,
women, isolated and homeless people, mentally ill people and children who have been disbanded
from the society and are discriminated.
The signs, symptoms, indicators and behaviors.
• Neglect- it is defines as when the individuals do not receive sufficient care from their
care as they do not carry put their duties as noted by Choi, N. G., & Mayer, J. (2000). It can be
unintentional or deliberate.
The signs and symptoms are absence of basic requirements like food, heat and water, poor
personal hygiene like dirty nails, skin, and soiled clothing. Not properly dressed as per the
weather condition, illness and constant hunger.
• Self-neglect- it is when an individual does not give attention to his health and well-being.
This can happen because of depression or illness and individuals also might intentionally neglect
himself.

The signs and symptoms are the poor personal hygiene, not seeking medical help, living in dirty
places, poor nutrition, not interested in grooming themselves, not taking medication and not
paying attention to self-care like cutting of nails.
• Physical abuse- it happens when an individual is inflicted with a physical force which is
not accidental and it results in pain, injury to the body and impairment. The physical abuse is an
intentional and deliberate physical force used for harming others. Mostly the young and old
people are victim of physical abuse as pointed out by Knight, L., & Hester, M. (2016).
The signs or indicators like being pushed or slapped, shoved, kicked, bitten, held against the will,
punched, choked, ducked in water, threats of violence, locking in or out, pulled hair, being hurt
with a weapon, burnt with acid, hot food, water or cigarettes. There also symptoms of significant
loss in weight, unexplained loss of hair, drowsiness, sprains, fractures, dislocations, bruising,
flinching and cowering, frustrated and feeling low.
• Emotional abuse- Emotional or psychological abuse happens when an individual uses
threats or try to control the mind of other person which makes them feel that it is their own fault
and they also feel powerless. This results in physical and mental distress. The emotional abuse is
when a person gains control and power over the other individual through the use of gestures or
words which undermines the self-respect of the other person. This type of abuse includes
blaming, yelling, name-calling, neglecting, screaming, making threats, false accusations,
belittling, manipulating. Withholding affection and not listening.
The signs of the emotional abuse are anxiety, withdrawing affection, depression, low self-esteem
and confidence, fearful etc. and behaviors like twisting of hair, self-mutilation and swearing and
shouting.
• Sexual abuse- it is defined as the indirect or direct involvement in the activities which
are sexual in nature and happen without consent. It is when a person is tricked or forced in any
kind of sexual activity and it is not consensual. It can happen to both women and men
irrespective of age and the individuals who are mentally retarded according to Tharinger, D.,
Horton, C. B., & Millea, S. (1990).

The signs include bruises around genitals, breast, unexplained anal or vaginal bleeding, genital
infection etc. The symptoms include disturbed sleeping patterns, anxiety, fearful, withdrawn of
vulnerable adults etc.
• Domestic abuse- it is when there are incidents of threatening, violent behavior, coercive,
degrading and controlling behavior. In most of the cases it is done by an existing partner or an
ex-partner but can also be done by any carer of family member. Most of the times victims are
women and it is perpetrated by the men.
The signs, indicators and symptoms being attacked with a weapon, abstaining from getting food,
sleep or medical care, being pushed, punched, hair pulled, locking up in or out of the home,
forced sex, attempts to give STDs, not using birth control etc.
• Institutional abuse- this happens when the lifestyles of the service users are being
sacrificed in favor of the restrictive home practices and routines. It comprises of physical,
discriminatory, sexual, emotional, psychological, financial and verbal abuse and can happen with
old aged people according to Malmedal, W., et al. (2015). Service users are not allowed to go out
and their privacy is breached and they are not respected. Their interests are taken into account for
decision making. Excessive medication can be administers and their complaints remain
unattended.
The signs and symptoms are lacking personal possessions and clothing, irregularity in eating,
sleeping, misuse of medicines, dirty clothes and linen, absence of care plans, staff enters without
knocking into the service user’s rooms etc as suggested by Frazão, S. L., et al. (2015).
• Bullying- it is defines as the aggressive and unwanted behavior and it involves perceived
or real imbalance in power. This behavior is often repeated or has the potential to be repeated
over a time period.
The signs of bullying are cuts, scratches, bruises, damages clothes and belongings, constantly
hungry etc. The symptoms of emotional and behavioral bullying includes changes in eating and
sleeping pattern, mood swings, frequent anger and tear, is withdrawn and stammers, refuses to
talk, becomes unreasonable and aggressive.

References
Boland, B., Burnage, J., & Chowhan, H. (2013). Safeguarding adults at risk of harm. Bmj, 346,
f2716.
Choi, N. G., & Mayer, J. (2000). Elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation: Risk factors and
prevention strategies. Journal of gerontological social work, 33(2), 5-25.
Cooney, C., & Howard, R. (1995). Abuse of patients with dementia by carers—out of sight but
not out of mind. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 10(9), 735-741.
Knight, L., & Hester, M. (2016). Domestic violence and mental health in older
adults. International review of psychiatry, 28(5), 464-474.
Malmedal, W., Iversen, M. H., & Kilvik, A. (2015). Sexual abuse of older nursing home
residents: a literature review. Nursing research and practice, 2015.
Phair, L., & Heath, H. (2012). Safeguarding vulnerable older people in hospital. Nursing
Standard (through 2013), 27(4), 50.
Schiamberg, L. B., Barboza, G. G., Oehmke, J., Zhang, Z., Griffore, R. J., Weatherill, R. P., ... &
Post, L. A. (2011). Elder abuse in nursing homes: An ecological perspective. Journal of
elder abuse & neglect, 23(2), 190-211.
Tharinger, D., Horton, C. B., & Millea, S. (1990). Sexual abuse and exploitation of children and
adults with mental retardation and other handicaps. Child Abuse & Neglect, 14(3), 301-
312.