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Caregiving for Parents Who Harmed You: A Conceptual Review
Jooyoung Kong1, Anne Kunze1, Jaime Goldberg1
1Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Clinical Gerontologist
|May 3, 2021
Summary
Adults who experienced childhood maltreatment may face psychological challenges when caring for parents who perpetrated that abuse. Understanding these complex dynamics is vital for effective caregiver support.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
- Caregiver Studies
Background:
- Parental childhood maltreatment can significantly impact adult offspring.
- Adult children may become caregivers for their abusive parents, creating complex caregiving situations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conceptually review research on the effects of parental childhood maltreatment on adult-child caregivers.
- To explore the experiences and outcomes of caring for perpetrating parents.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across multiple databases (PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, EBSCO).
- Review of reference sections of selected relevant papers.
Main Results:
- Childhood maltreatment history is linked to adverse psychological health in adult-child caregivers.
- Caregivers with such histories provide less support to their parents.
- Factors influencing outcomes include relationship dynamics, sense of choice, posttraumatic growth, and end-of-life care.
Conclusions:
- Caregiving for perpetrating parents presents unique challenges due to intersecting factors.
- Healthcare practitioners need heightened awareness and knowledge to support these caregivers effectively.
- Trauma-informed approaches are crucial, especially during end-of-life care and bereavement.
Keywords:
Childhood maltreatmentfamily caregivingintergenerational solidaritylife-course perspectiveposttraumatic growthMore Related Videos
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