Violence, communication, and satisfaction among middle-aged adults and older people from Romania

Data on intimate partner violence (IPV) are necessary when planning public health policies aimed at prevention and support. Family communication and satisfaction are essential for health and well-being. Here, we report the findings of a quantitative cross-sectional study performed between 2016 and 2017 on 601 patients (55–93-years-old) who were treated at the Ana Aslan National Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics. We explore the answers to one item on the omnibus questionnaire (man-on-women, woman-on-man) regarding: (1) insults, swearing, humiliation; (2) being forced to engage in unwanted sexual intercourse; (3) withholding sexual activity or affection; (4) slapping, kicking, pushing; (5) hitting with a stick or other objects; (6) threatening with a knife or firearm; and (7) financial control, neglect, or food deprivation. Also, the Family Communication Scale (FCS) and Family Satisfaction Scale (FSS) are used. IPV prevalence was generally high, especially for the categories of insults, swearing, humiliation, withholding sexual activity, and affection. More women than men reported IPV, especially insults, swearing, and humiliation. More than a quarter of respondents (men and women) suffered occasionally or often from a form of abuse and experienced emotional abuse. The potential of family communication and satisfaction is relatively good, and these are associated. In the case of low and very low family communication and satisfaction, IPV prevalence was higher for all categories. There is a vicious circle because, on the one hand, violence can provoke emotional distance, and, on the other hand, a lack of intimacy and communication can lead to violence. At the same time, low satisfaction in a relationship can be seen both as a cause and as an effect of violence. Programs and information materials addressing family violence are rarely aimed at people in middle adulthood or older people and are instead focused on young women and children. We believe that this imbalance should be redressed.