Research focus : some of the issues emerging in a study of elder abuse

Elder abuse is a socially and culturally constructed phenomenon. Cultural factors play a large role in how people define elder abuse and construct their perceptions of the problem. Different meanings of elder abuse exist in different societies or cultures (Moon, 2000). For a deeper understanding of such a complex issue, this New Zealand study explores how Korean older people have perceived or experienced elder mistreatment and neglect in their new environment. Elder abuse in Korean culture interacts with traditional filial values that espouse mutual respect between parents and children; the concept of filial piety, therefore, is critically investigated within the wider cross-cultural and social context.