INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES ABOUT ELDER ABUSE - THE ELDER ABUSE ATTITUDE TEST (EAAT)

This research examined individual differences in attitudes about elder abuse and other concerns in contemporary social morality. Study 1 was part of a larger investigation intended to identify examples of elder abuse through a survey of 572 seniors and practioners. Using a series of construct validation filters, a unifactorial Elder Abuse Attitude Test (EAAT) was developed that measures individual differences in eval uating examples of elder abuse. The EAAT contains 13 items and had an internal consistency exceeding .9. Study 2 included the EAAT in a surv ey of attitudes about wider social issues. Data on the EAAT, 31 survey items, and indexes of extremity and agreement set were analysed for 2 57 respondents. Zero-order and factor analysis showed relationships of the EAAT with extremity set and items stating that society should pro vide fiscal and other resources towards the prevention and remediation of child, spousal, and elder abuse. Attitude extremity was uncorrelat ed with four other attitude factors. We conclude that people more pron e to attitude extremity have stronger convictions about the responsibi lity of society to attenuate abusive situations.