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Factors Affecting Sons' and Daughters' Caregiving to Older Parents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Lynn M. Crawford ,
John B. Bond Jr.  and
Robert F. Balshaw
Lynn M. Crawford
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba*
John B. Bond Jr.
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba*
Robert F. Balshaw
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba*
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Abstract

Using variables derived from Attachment Theory, gender differences in several motivational and structural factors on the levels of care provided by adult offspring to their parents are explored. Data from the Winnipeg Parent Support Project on informal helpers who were sons and daughters between the ages of 30 and 64 (n = 79) were analysed. Consistent with previous research, adult daughters reported greater caregiving than sons. The structural variables of Employment, Marriage and Presence of Children did not emerge as significant predictors of caregiving involvement for sons or daughters. Considerable support was found for Attachment Theory. Perceived Parental Dependence, followed by Frequency of Visits, emerged as the strongest predictors of sons' and daughters' caregiving involvement. Perceived Parental Ability accounted for additional variation in daughters', but not sons', caregiving. No support was found for Exchange Theory; reciprocity did not predict caregiving involvement. Implications for understanding the helping behaviour of adult sons and daughters are discussed.

Résumé

L'aide de variables découlant de la théorie de l'attachement, cette étude examine les différences entre les sexes dans les types de soins donnés aux parents par les enfants d'âge adulte en fonction de plusieurs facteurs reposant sur la motivation et la structure. Cette étude analyse des données tirées du «Winnipeg Parent Support Project» (Projet de soutien auprès des parents de Winnipeg), qui portait sur l'aide informelle donnée par les fils et les filles âgés de 30 à 64 ans (n = 179). Soutenant les résultats d'études antérieures, l'analyse a démontré que les filles prodiguent davantage de soins que les fils. Les variables structurelles sur le plan de l'emploi, du mariage et de la présence des enfants n'ont donné aucun indicateur prévisionnel significatif sur la quantité de soins donnés par les fils et les filles. La théorie de l'attachement s'est révélée un facteur important. La dépendance perçue des parents, suivie par la fréquence des visites représentaient les plus importants facteurs d'incitation à la prestation de soins chez les fils et les filles. L'aptitude perçue des parents constituait également une variable chez les filles, mais non chez les fils. Les résultats n'ont pas soutenu la théorie d'échange: le facteur de réciprocité n'a pu permettre de prévoir le degré de participation à la prestation de soins. Les auteurs discutent de l'importance de comprendre le comportement des fils et des filles d'âge adulte qui prêtent main-forte.

Keywords

Parental CaregivingIntergenerationalGender Differences.Aide aux parentsintergénérationaldifférences entre les sexes.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , Winter/hiver 1994 , pp. 454 - 469
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1994

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