“It happens more than you think”: New research examines sexual violence in later life

Sexual violence is usually framed as a concern affecting younger people. But a new George Mason University study of survivors over 50 tells a different story. 

Michelle Hand, assistant professor of social work at the College of Public Health, set out to document those experiences, identifying 16 survivors in their 50s through 80s who shared candid accounts of violence they endured at later ages and the aftermath. The study is one of the first to center older adults’ voices on sexual violence, an area where survivor accounts have been largely absent from research.  

The survivors described sexual violence among older people as more common than the public assumes, but often ignored or dismissed. The group included both men and women, as well as LGBTQ+ survivors. 

“Many survivors who are 50 years and older feel left out of the narrative because they have been, so it was important that their voices were heard in this study,” Hand said. “Their rich perspectives resulted in nuanced recommendations for sexual violence prevention and intervention, including in the workplace, where older survivors have been met with shock.” 

Several survivors said they didn’t fully understand their own experiences at first because society frames older adults as “not sexual” and therefore not as targets for sexual violence. One survivor cited “denial that such a thing exists.” 

Shame, fear, and ageism prevented many survivors from even reporting their experiences to authorities. Seven of the 16 participants formally reached out to police, hospitals, or other agencies; others said they stayed quiet to avoid embarrassment or because they felt no one would take them seriously. 

Across the board, survivors called for tougher penalties, stronger enforcement of existing laws, zero-tolerance policies, and more widespread education on sexual violence in later life to prevent future harm. “Awareness needs to be everywhere,” one man said. “Awareness and facts are the best preventive measures.” 

To help address the problem, multiple survivors suggested that long-term care facilities, workplaces, and senior-serving organizations need mandatory training on spotting and responding to sexual abuse, and careful screening of employees who work closely with older adults. 

For many, the aftermath of violence lingered, through common trauma responses like fear, hypervigilance, humiliation, and broken trust. “Many things got changed in my life,” one woman shared. Another added: “I need to be very watchful now.” 

Hand used an anonymous online survey identifying 16 survivors from a larger national pool of adults. Though the sample size is limited, it is the largest known qualitative study highlighting the voices of direct survivors of sexual violence in later life and it opens a window to a population rarely included in this line of research. “This is a start, and it underscores why older survivors must be part of the conversation,” Hand said. “Their wisdom and experiences are needed to help shape sexual violence prevention and intervention across the life course.” 

"Sexual Violence Among People Aged 50 Years and Older: Recommendations for Prevention Provided by Direct Survivors of Sexual Violence Past Age 50” was published in Open Aging in August 2025. Other authors include Mo Yee Lee, Cecilia Mengo, Holly Dabelko-Schoeny, and Michelle Kaiser.