Exposure, Reporting, and Distress Following Sexual Harassment in Geriatric Care

Sexual harassment in healthcare has been documented, yet evidence from geriatric care settings remains limited. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of sexual harassment, attribution patterns, reporting intentions, and psychological outcomes among healthcare workers employed in geriatric institutions. A total of 159 staff members from one geriatric medical center and one nursing home in northern Israel completed anonymous questionnaires. Overall, 34.0% of participants reported at least one form of sexual harassment in the preceding year, with verbal behaviors being most common, though physical harassment was also reported. Reporting intentions varied by perpetrator type and were consistently predicted by perceived intentionality, whereas attribution to illness or contextual factors did not independently predict reporting. Multivariable analyses further demonstrated that emotional and occupational impact was the strongest predictor of psychological distress, exceeding the contribution of exposure alone. These findings highlight the complex interplay between attribution, reporting behavior, and psychological burden in geriatric care.