People with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as domestic violence and neglect, are up to 7.65 times more prone to verbally or physically abusing elderly people than those without such experiences are, Japanese researchers have found.

The researchers, including Chie Koga, project assistant professor at the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, analyzed answers collected between September and October 2022 in an online survey that asked participants about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives and health.

The survey covered about 13,300 people between the ages of 20 and 64 who suffered ACEs that could potentially cause psychological trauma when they were 17 years old or younger.

In the survey, 8.5% said they had abused family members age 65 or over or other people in the age group.

Compared with people without ACEs, the risk of abusing elderly people was 3.22 times higher for respondents who had at least one type of such experience, such as parental divorce or physical and psychological abuse, and 7.65 times higher for those who had experienced two or more types.

Psychological factors such as depression and adjustment and eating disorders are believed to be related to elderly abuse, according to the study.

While psychological trauma during childhood is known to possibly cause victims to use violence against their own children, the study found that such mental suffering can also lead to elderly abuse.

The study suggests that "the cycle of intergenerational violence can extend to all vulnerable groups," Koga said.

It is important to identify social and environmental factors leading to violence and to develop a social system in which people can receive appropriate support, she added.