Violent behavior is often learned in the home at a young age as a means to deal with feelings. Persons who have experienced violence, as a victim or a witness, may choose to deal with their problems in a like manner. The cycle of violence has elements of intimidation, retaliation, and imitation. Adults who were mistreated as children may be abusive to their elderly parents as a form of "pay back."

A. Dependency
A violent domestic situation may arise due to economic/financial dependence and/or physical/emotional dependence. There may be a web of dependency where the adult child/caregiver provides care to their elder, who in turn provides him/her with money, emotional support and a place to live. In studies, dependency of the abuser on the victim is shown to be a major factor in physical abuse. In one study, 64% of abusers were financially dependent on the victim and 55% dependent for housing. Often abusers become frustrated due to a feeling of powerlessness in controlling their finances or improving their financial independence.

The victim’s medical, functional or cognitive disability may increase dependency and vulnerability, thus increasing the risk for abuse or neglect. Caregiving responsibilities create stress and the caregiver may become more frustrated as the person being cared for becomes more dependent for financial, emotional, and physical support. The adult child/caregiver may not have wanted this role or may have had a poor relationship with the person in the past and now exhibits resentment. The caregiver may be unprepared or ill suited for the caregiving task.

B. Social Isolation
Social isolation is relevant in adult abuse, whether it is a cause or an effect. Aging may be accompanied by decrease in productivity, loss of independence and mobility, and loss of contact with others.

Isolation is often associated with neglect, but also is related to other forms of violence. Isolation reduces the risk that abuse will be discovered. Violence and exploitation may be hidden when a caregiver denies the older adult his or her right to see and/or talk to friends or other family members.

C. Stressors
The bigger the stress on the caregiver and the greater the dependency of the older adult for activities of daily living, the greater the potential for abuse.

Stress often triggers abusive behavior that may result in physical violence, neglect and/or financial exploitation. Some key stressors include:

• Economic hardship: The abuser has no income of his/her own
  
• Lack of respite: The stressed caregiver is not aware of resources or respite care, or is ill prepared for the caregiving task and feels trapped
  
• Guilt: Caregivers feel guilty about their own inadequacies and frustrations in the caregiving role
  
• Anxiety and fatigue: Caregivers neglect their own needs and health, resulting in increased stress
  
• Difficult behaviors of the adult: Behaviors such as excessive demands, wandering, insomnia, and noncompliance may produce stress and contribute to abuse
  

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