Psychological And Functional Vulnerability Predicts Fraud Cases In Older Adults: Results Of A Longitudinal Study

Keywords

financial exploitation; Fraud; psychological vulnerability

Abstract

Using cross sectional data Psychological vulnerability was identified as a correlate of older adults being defrauded. We extend that research by examining fraud prevalence using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, and to identify the best predictors of fraud longitudinally across a 4-year time frame. Whereas reported fraud prevalence was 5.0% in a 5-year look-back period in 2008, it increased to 6.1% in 2012. The rate of new-incident fraud across only a 4-year look-back was 4.3%. Being younger-old, having a higher level of education, and having more depression significantly predicted the new cases of fraud reported in 2012. Psychological vulnerability was a potent longitudinal predictor of fraud, with the most vulnerable individuals being more than twice as likely to be defrauded. Results indicate that fraud victimization among older adults is rising, and that vulnerability variables, along with some demographic variables, predict new cases of fraud.

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Publication Title

Clinical Gerontologist

Volume

39

Issue

1

Number of Pages

48-63

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2015.1101632

Socpus ID

84950121802 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84950121802

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