Malaysian Elder Abuse Scale (MEAS)
Measures the prevalence and types of elder abuse, including physical, psychological, and financial abuse, among older adults.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Malaysian Elder Abuse Scale (MEAS) was developed by Tengku Aizan Hamid, Yadollah Abolfathi Momtaz, Rahimah Ibrahim (2013). It is designed to measure Elder abuse. The scale is intended for use with Older adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Physical abuse, Psychological abuse, Financial abuse.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Physical abuse | 1,2,3,4 | 4 |
| Psychological abuse | 5,6,7,8 | 4 |
| Financial abuse | 9,10 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 10. Interpretation guidelines:
- No abuse reported: 0 – 0
- Abuse reported (any positive response indicates potential abuse): 1 – 10
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Good reliability and validity reported.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.