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Gender differences in parent care: demographic factors and same-gender preferences
G R Lee1, J W Dwyer, R T Coward
1Department of Sociology, University of Florida.
Journal of Gerontology
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Adult children often provide care to parents of the same gender. This gender consistency in caregiving, particularly with mothers receiving care, explains why daughters are more frequently involved in elder care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Gender dynamics significantly influence family roles and responsibilities.
- Understanding caregiving patterns is crucial for supporting aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that the gender of an adult child caregiver is influenced by the gender of the parent needing care.
- To investigate gender-based patterns in adult children providing assistance with daily living tasks to infirm elders.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 4,371 infirm elders and 13,172 adult children.
- Utilized logistic regression to examine caregiving relationships within the National Long-Term Care Survey.
Main Results:
- Adult children were more likely to provide care to a same-gender parent.
- Infirm elders were more likely to receive care from a same-gender child.
- The tendency for gender consistency in caregiving partially explains why daughters are more involved in parent care than sons.
Conclusions:
- Gender plays a significant role in determining who provides care to aging parents.
- The prevalence of mothers requiring care contributes to higher rates of female caregiving.
- Findings highlight the importance of gender in the dynamics of family elder care.