Caring for older family members: Testing the role strain and role accumulation perspectives
Abstract
In recent years, the rising costs of health care, increased longevity, changes in the levels and timing of fertility, and the rise in women's labor force participation have created unprecedented demands on the population of caregiving women in the U.S. These changes require many women to occupy multiple demanding statuses simultaneously, often including that of caregiver, parent, spouse, and worker. This research uses data from the NSFH1 to examine on whether the role of caregiver exacerbates the strain experienced in other roles (spouse, parent, and worker). Results show that occupying multiple roles has little effect on strain within those roles for caregiving women. Although the argument cannot be made here that there is a clear, strong link between caregiving and reports of spousal overload, this research provides a first step towards better understanding how caregiving women experience role-specific strain. The results are discussed with reference to study limitations, measurement issues, and calls for future research on fine-tuning the study of caregiving and role-specific strain.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Suitor, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Gerontology|Womens studies|Sociology
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