Elder mistreatment in informal caregiving relationships
Abstract
Symbolic interactionism was used to examine elder mistreatment in caregiving relationships in which family members provide care for a dependent elder. Mistreatment was predicted based on factors associated with the role-identity negotiation process and the ability of the caregiver to engage in role-performances, as well as the caregiver and receiver to acquire role-support for desired role-identities. This study added to the knowledge on elder mistreatment is several ways. First, a clearer and broader definition of "elder abuse" was offered in the use of the term "elder mistreatment" and the requirement that the behavior need occur only once to be defined as mistreatment. Secondly, data from a random sample provided a more accurate representation of the types of abusive behavior and the factors leading to mistreatment for most people experiencing mistreatment in informal caregiving relationships. Third, information from both caregiver and receiver was used to take into account the interaction and reciprocity within a caregiving relationship. Fourth, using symbolic interactionist theory, theoretically specified hypotheses were tested. It was found that factors associated with the ability of the caregiver and receiver to have their role-identities granted in order to achieve interactional goals, as well as validate the self-image influenced the occurrence of elder mistreatment. The caregiver's perception of the elder as abusive was the biggest single factor in the occurrence of mistreatment and a number of the theoretically specified variables were indirectly related to mistreatment through increasing the probability that the caregiver would define the elder's behavior as abusive. By using symbolic interactionism, mistreatment was conceptualized as part of an ongoing process, rather than as an end in itself. Moreover, mistreatment was found to feed back into and affect the role-identity negotiation process itself.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Knudsen, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology|Gerontology
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