Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-11T08:17:11.153Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Sexual harassment from older residents at long-term care facilities: is it really part of the job?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 October 2019

Feliciano Villar ,
Josep Fabà ,
Rodrigo Serrat ,
Montserrat Celdrán  and
Teresa Martínez
Feliciano Villar*
Affiliation:
Department of Cognition, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Josep Fabà
Affiliation:
Department of Cognition, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Rodrigo Serrat
Affiliation:
Department of Cognition, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Montserrat Celdrán
Affiliation:
Department of Cognition, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Teresa Martínez
Affiliation:
Social Services and Rights Department, Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Feliciano Villar, Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. Phone: +34 933125860. Fax: +34 934021368. Email: fvillar@ub.edu.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives:

To explore the extent to which staff members in long-term care facilities (LTCF) have experienced situations of sexual harassment, how they commonly and ideally manage the situation, and how their work position influences their responses.

Design:

Cross-sectional quantitative study, using the vignette technique.

Method:

A total of 2,196 staff-members who were currently working in Spanish LTCF participated in the study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Questions regarding sexual harassment were analysed by a vignette that described a case of sexual harassment. Participants had to choose common and best practices for dealing with the case, and report the frequency with which they had experienced similar situations.

Results:

The results indicate that 29.9% of participants had experienced an episode of sexual harassment in a LTCF similar to the one presented in the vignette. Responses to the situation were diverse and there were significant differences between common and perceived best practices. Differences were also found depending on the work position of the participant (manager, technical staff or nursing assistant).

Conclusions:

There is a need for a fuller recognition of the sexual needs of older people. However, the presence of inappropriate sexual behavior must also be acknowledged. The right of staff to work in an environment free of harassment must be respected. The need for explicit institutional guidelines and training opportunities is discussed.

Keywords

sexualitysexual harassmentresidential aged care facilitiescare assistantsgood practice
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 32 , Issue 3: Issue Theme: Improving Healthcare in Long-Term Care and Nursing Homes , March 2020 , pp. 325 - 333
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aguilar, R. A. (2017). Sexual expression of nursing home residents: Systematic review of the literature. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 49, 470–477.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alagiakrishnan, K.et al. (2005). Sexually inappropriate behaviour in demented elderly people. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 81, 463–466.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ali, E. A. A., Saied, S. M., Elsabagh, H. M. and Zayed, H. A. (2015). Sexual harassment against nursing staff in Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt. The Journal of The Egyptian Public Health Association, 90, 94–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alliance to End Sexual Violence in Long-Term Care. (2015). Understanding Sexual Rights and Sexual Assault in Resident Advocacy. Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
Bardell, A., Lau, T. and Fedoroff, J. P. (2011). Inappropriate sexual behavior in a geriatric population. International Psychogeriatrics, 23, 1182–1188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berdes, C. and Eckert, J. M. (2007). The language of caring: Nurse’s aides’ use of family metaphors conveys affective care. The Gerontologist, 47, 340–349. doi: 10.1093/geront/47.3.340CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blackstone, A., Houle, J. and Uggen, C. (2014). “I didn't recognize it as a bad experience until I was much older”: Age, experience, and workers’ perceptions of sexual harassment. Sociological Spectrum, 34, 314–337.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2013). Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Bronner, G., Peretz, C. and Ehrenfeld, M. (2003). Sexual harassment of nurses and nursing students. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 42, 637–644.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burgess, E. O., Barmon, C., Moorhead, J.R. Jr, Perkins, M. M. and Bender, A. A. (2016). “That Is So Common Everyday… Everywhere You Go” sexual harassment of workers in assisted living. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 37, 397–418.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Çelik, Y. and Çelik, S. Ş. (2007). Sexual harassment against nurses in Turkey. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 39, 200–206.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cogin, J. and Fish, A. (2009). Sexual harassment—a touchy subject for nurses. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 23, 442–462.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daly, T., Banerjee, A., Armstrong, P., Armstrong, H. and Szebehely, M. (2011). Lifting the “violence veil”: Examining working conditions in long-term care facilities using iterative mixed methods. Canadian Journal on Aging, 30, 271–284. doi: 10.1017/S071498081100016XCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Deery, S., Walsh, J. and Guest, D. (2011). Workplace aggression: The effects of harassment on job burnout and turnover intentions. Work, Employment & Society, 25, 742–759. doi: 10.1177/0950017011419707CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gerberich, S. G., Church, T. R. and McGovern, P. M. (2004). An epidemiological study of the magnitude and consequences of work related violen: The minnesota nurses’study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61, 495–503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guay, S., Goncalves, J. and Jarvis, J. (2015). A systematic review of exposure to physical violence across occupational domains according to victims’ sex. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 25, 133–141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huebner, L. C. (2008). It is part of the job: Waitresses and nurses define sexual harassment. Sociological Viewpoints, 24, 75–90.Google Scholar
International Labour Organization. (2001). Collective agreement on the prevention and resolution of harassment-related grievances. http://www.ilo.org/public/english/staffun/docs/harassment.htm; last accessed March 23, 2019.Google Scholar
International Longevity Centre – UK (2011). The last taboo: A Guide to Dementia, Sexuality, Intimacy and Sexual Behaviour in Care Homes. London: Author. https://ilcuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/pdf_pdf_184.pdf; last accessed March 23, 2019.Google Scholar
Joller, P.et al. (2013). Approach to inappropriate sexual behaviour in people with dementia. Canadian Family Physician, 59, 255–260.Google ScholarPubMed
Kettl, P. (2008). Inappropriate sexual behavior in long-term care. Annals of Long-Term Care, 16, 29–35.Google Scholar
Krøjer, J., Lehn-Christiansen, S. and Nielsen, M. L. (2014). Sexual harassment of newcomers in elder care-an institutional practice?. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies, 4, 81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lichtenberg, P. A. (2014). Sexuality and physical intimacy in long-term care. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 28, 42–50.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Madison, J. and Minichiello, V. (2000). Recognizing and labeling sex-based and sexual harassment in the health care workplace. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 32, 405–410.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Magnavita, N. (2014). Workplace violence and occupational stress in healthcare workers: A chicken-and-egg situation—results of a 6-year follow-up study. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 46, 366–376.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mahieu, L., Van Elssen, K. and Gastmans, C. (2011). Nurses’ perceptions of sexuality in institutionalized elderly: A literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48, 1140–1154.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Malik, N. I., Malik, S., Qureshi, N. and Atta, M. (2014). Sexual harassment as predictor of low self-esteem and job satisfaction among in-training nurses. FWU Journal of Social Sciences, 8, 107.Google Scholar
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (2009). Practical Guidelines for Boards of Nursing on Sexual Misconduct Cases. Chicago: Author.Google Scholar
Nielsen, M. B., Bjørkelo, B., Notelaers, G. and Einarsen, S. (2010). Sexual harassment: Prevalence, outcomes, and gender differences assessed by three different estimation methods. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 19, 252–274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nielsen, M. B. D.et al. (2017). Sexual harassment in care work–Dilemmas and consequences: A qualitative investigation. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 70, 122–130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Piquero, N. L., Piquero, A. R., Craig, J. M. and Clipper, S. J. (2013). Assessing research on workplace violence, 2000–2012. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 18, 383–394.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poster, E. C. (1996). A multinational study of psychiatric nursing staffs’ beliefs and concerns about work safety and patient assault. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 10, 365–373.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quine, L. (2001). Workplace bullying in nurses. Journal of Health Psychology, 6, 73–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rippon, T. J. (2000). Aggression and violence in health care professions. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 31, 452–460. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.2000.01284.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shields, M. and Wilkins, K. (2009). Factors related to on-the-job abuse of nurses by patients. Health Reports, 20, 7–19.Google ScholarPubMed
Simpson, P., Almack, K. and Walthery, P. (2018). ‘We treat them all the same’: The attitudes, knowledge and practices of staff concerning old/er lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans residents in care homes. Ageing & Society, 38, 869–899.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Somani, R., Karmaliani, R., Mc Farlane, J., Asad, N. and Hiran, S. (2015). Sexual harassment towards nurses in Pakistan: Are we safe?. International Journal of Nursing Education, 7, 286–289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spector, P. E., Zhou, Z. E. and Che, X. X. (2014). Nurse exposure to physical and nonphysical violence, bullying, and sexual harassment: A quantitative review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 51, 72–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Syme, M. L., Lichtenberg, P. and Moye, J. (2016). Recommendations for sexual expression management in long-term care: A qualitative needs assessment. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 72, 2457–2467.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Terpstra, D. E. and Baker, D. D. (1987). A hierarchy of sexual harassment. Journal of Psychology, 121, 599–605.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tobaruela, J. L. (2003) Residencias: Perfil del usuario e impacto del ingreso [Long-term care residencies: User’s profile and impact of admission] (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Madrid: Universidad Complutense de Madrid.Google Scholar
Tourangeau, R. and Yan, T. (2007). Sensitive questions in surveys. Psychological Bulletin, 133, 859.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tsatali, M. S., Tsolaki, M. N., Christodoulou, T. P. and Papaliagkas, V. T. (2011). The complex nature of inappropriate sexual behaviors in patients with dementia: Can we put it into a frame? Sexuality and Disability, 29, 143–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tucker, I. (2010). Management of inappropriate sexual behaviors in dementia: A literature review. International Psychogeriatrics, 22, 683–692.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Valente, S. M. and Bullough, V. (2004). Sexual harassment of nurses in the workplace. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 19, 234–241.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. (2009). Supporting Sexual Health and Intimacy in Care Facilities: Guidelines for Supporting Adults Living in Long-Term Care Facilities and group homes in British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver: Author.Google Scholar
Villar, F., Serrat, R., Celdrán, M., Fabà, J. and Martínez, M. T. (2019). Disclosing a LGB sexual identity when living in an elderly long-term care facility: common and best practices. Journal of Homosexuality, 66, 970–988.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, L. J.et al. (2012). Workplace sexual harassment in two general hospitals in Taiwan: The incidence, perception, and gender differences. Journal of Occupational Health, 54, 56–63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ward, R. F. and Manchip, S. (2013). ‘Inappropriate’ sexual behaviours in dementia. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 23, 75–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar