Integrating General Strain Theory and Trauma-Informed Principles into the Study of Older Adult Victimization

Prevalence rates for late life victimization are well-documented. The literature has expanded, in part due to the identification of elder justice as a key priority for federal funding. The interdisciplinary field of criminology has begun addressing elder victimization and its consequences, informed by General Strain Theory (GST). It is challenging to connect the findings from this research to evidence-based interventions for older victims. Trauma-informed principles (TIP)–when linked with GST–offer a means for doing so. The current review contributes to the extant literature by examining connections between these perspectives, with the goal of encouraging future research, and ultimately informing treatment for older adult victims.