Diff erent types of maltreatment against older people, perpetrated by those within their
close social network, stand in contrast to well-known theories of intergenerational solidarity. Th e aim of this study was to examine the relationships between diff erent types
of maltreatment reported by Polish older people and their health-related quality of life.
A cross-sectional study was carried out in a simple random sample of 631 older (i.e., aged
65 years and over) citizens of Cracow (36.6% males and 63.4% females). Th e study was based on face to face interviews. Structured questionnaire consisting of questions meant
to recognize diff erent types of maltreatment and the perpetrators of such maltreatment.
Health-related quality of life was evaluated with scales included in the SF-36. Th e infl uence of a particular dimension of quality of life on the risk of being a victim of violence
was explored in multivariate logistic regression models which showed that risk of poor
perception of the health status was higher in both, older women (ExpB = 2.04; 95% CI
= (1.21; 3.44)) and older men (ExpB = 2.01; 95% CI = (1.00; 4.06)), who presented belief
that older people in Poland are poorly treated by younger parts of the society. Risk of high
limitation in functional status was higher in men confi rmed that older people in Poland
are poorly treated by rest of the society (ExpB = 2.40; 95% CI = (1.23; 4.71)). Risk of
low psychological well-being was higher in women confi rmed self-defi ning themselves as
a victim of psychological abuse (ExpB = 2.60; 95% CI = (1.27; 5.34)) and those who defi ned themselves as a victim of neglect by family members (ExpB = 2.73; 95% CI = (1.22;
6.08)). Men who believed that older people are poorly treated in Poland also had higher
risk of low psychological well-being (ExpB = 2.30; 95% CI = (1.18; 4.46)). Presented data
show that in self-defi nition older people perceived themselves as a victim of maltreatment.
Coping with these negative beliefs and opinion should be taken into account as a challenge to develop the social capital based on mutual trust and intergenerational solidarity
