Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Michigan has received a $557,697 Project Grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of the Director under the Trans-NIH Research Support program (CFDA 93.310), effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030. This longitudinal research initiative delivers a comprehensive mixed-methods investigation examining the lifecourse patterns of elder abuse perpetration among individuals with histories of childhood maltreatment. The primary deliverables include analysis of data from a decades-long cohort study of childhood abuse victims (first assessed in the 1970s when aged 18 months to 6 years, now in their late 40s and 50s) to identify risk and protective factors associated with "reverse violence"—abusive behavior directed toward aging parents requiring family care. The research combines quantitative assessment of proximal risk factors including depression, substance abuse, and relationship quality with qualitative interviews of 50 participants exploring concepts of forgiveness, reconciliation, and resilience in parent-adult child relationships affected by prior abuse.

The award generates research outputs that advance theoretical understanding of intergenerational abuse patterns and resilience mechanisms across the lifecourse, with direct application to developing evidence-based interventions to reduce elder abuse risk. Conducted at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus, this investigation supports the NIH's emphasis on rigorous, innovative research addressing critical public health challenges through comprehensive methodology and multi-disciplinary scientific expertise.