JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Despite a significant percentage of older adults having experienced some form of elder mistreatment (EM), it often goes underreported. One hypothesized reason for underreporting includes insufficient public awareness of EM.

Objective:

This study explores and compares baseline measures of EM public awareness in the United States.

Methods:

We used Google Trends data to explore the relative popularity of search terms “elder abuse,” “child abuse,” and “domestic violence” in the US from December 2018 to December 2023. We also compared the relative popularity of “elder abuse” between states based on universal mandated reporting laws and the criteria used to determine if these laws applied to the victim.

Results:

The mean popularities for elder abuse and child abuse were 11.35 and 50.21, respectively. The mean popularities for elder abuse and domestic violence were 6.96 and 63.5, respectively. The mean popularity among states with universal mandated reporting laws was 53.26 vs 59.33 among states with less stringent reporting laws (t = 1.65; p = 0.11). The mean popularity among states using victim age as the only criterion to determine reporting law applicability was 59.80 vs 55.41 for states using additional characteristics to determine applicability (t = -1.07; p = 0.29).

Conclusions:

Google Trends is a viable measure of public awareness. EM public awareness appears to be stable over time, yet lower than child abuse and domestic violence and unaffected by state reporting laws. Comprehensive prevention strategies are needed that go beyond legal mandates.