Care Practices Between Generations: Ambivalence and Meaning-making Process

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• Psychology

Background:

• Intergenerational exchange and mutual help are crucial for older adults' survival, particularly in developing nations.
• Daughters disproportionately bear the responsibility for elder care, navigating complex emotional and practical demands.
• Caregiving roles for aging parents are often fraught with tensions, conflicts, and ambivalence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the ambivalence inherent in caregiving practices among daughters caring for older parents.
• To examine the meaning-making processes associated with caregiving from daughters' perspectives.
• To understand how women manage multiple demands within the context of elder care.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of two narrative interviews with daughters serving as caregivers.
• Application of Semiotic Cultural Psychology as the theoretical framework.
• Utilized the Trajectory Equifinality Model (TEM) to analyze caregiving decisions as points of equifinality.

Main Results:

• Daughters' personal orientations towards caregiving exhibit a dynamic oscillation between traditional and postmodern values.
• This oscillation reflects a complex negotiation of personal and collective expectations surrounding elder care.
• The caregiving experience leads to significant qualitative transformations in intergenerational relationships.

Conclusions:

• Caregiving for aging parents is a multifaceted experience characterized by emotional and value-based ambivalence.
• Daughters' subjective experiences highlight the evolving nature of family roles and intergenerational solidarity.
• Understanding these dynamics is essential for supporting caregivers and promoting healthy aging.