Pacific Health Dialog, 2021, 21(7):407-414

Introduction: Cultural paradigms are emerging as the appropriate way to examine Samoan people’s life experiences. This study employs the fonofale model to explore and examine the notion of abuse among Pacific elders, mainly from a Samoan lens. Methods: In framing this study, the talanoa approach was deemed culturally appropriate. Twelve Samoan tagata matutua (elderly people) were asked totalanoa (discuss) their experiences of what abuse means to them. Findings: These suggest that, initially, abuse of Samoan elders was contested. That is, it is not the fa’asamoa (Samoan way) or the fa’akerisiano (Christian way). However, as the talanoa gathered mafana (warmth) and malie (maintained healthy social relationships), most agreed that physical abuse was uncommon within an aiga (familial) context, but other forms as in spiritual abuse were apparent. Overall, the disruption of the fa’asamoa through the violation of relational vā concepts are noted and perceived as a form of abuse that counters the universally accepted notions of abuse. Conclusion: For these tagata matutua, six different forms of abuse were identified, with particular emphasis on cultural and spiritual abuse. Following the fonofale paradigm, which reflects a Samoan worldview, this article informs a perception of spiritual abuse from the Samoan elders’ point of view. Their views have relevance to the wider Pacific context. (Authors' abstract). Record #7671