Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Early Caregiving: Perceived Parental Relations and Current Social Support

  • Published:
Journal of Adult Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is very little research on the effects of early caregiving on adult development. The purpose of the present study was to: (1) provide descriptive information on young caregivers, and (2) determine if there is a relation between early caregiving experiences, early parent–child relations and their current (adult) social support. Early caregiving was defined as providing assistance with basic and/or instrumental activities of daily living to parents or adult relatives, while under the age of 21. Thirty-eight individuals (33 females, 5 males) completed measures of their early caregiving experiences, the Parental Bonding Inventory (PBI), and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. Individuals who began caregiving at older ages (adolescence) perceived their father’s as more warm and caring than those who began caregiving at younger ages (early to middle childhood). Smaller amounts of care provided to care recipients were associated with more perceived current affectionate support and emotional and informational support available to young caregivers in adulthood. The smaller the duration of the caregiving experience, the more perceived affectionate support available to young caregivers in adulthood. The higher the reports of father’s warmth and caring toward the young caregiver, the more perceived tangible support available to them in adulthood. Warmth from father’s during the first 16 years of life is also associated with reports of a greater amount of relatives and friends available to provide support.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55, 469–480.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beach, D. L. (1997). Family caregiving: The positive impact on adolescent relationships. The Gerontologist, 37, 233–238.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coles, A. R., Pakenham, K. I., & Leech, C. (2007). Evaluation of an intensive psychosocial intervention for children of parents with Multiple Sclerosis. Rehabilitation Psychology, 52, 133–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daire, A. P. (2002). The influence of parental bonding on emotional distress in care giving sons for a parent with dementia. The Gerontologist, 42, 766–771.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dearden, C., & Becker, S. (1995). The national directory of young carers projects and initiatives. Loughborough: Loughborough University, Young Carers Research Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dearden, C., & Becker, S. (1998). Sheffield Young Carers Project: An evaluation. (Interim report April 1997–September 1998). Loughborough: Loughborough University, Young Carers Research Group.

  • Dearden, C., & Becker, S. (1999). The experiences of young carers in the UK: The mental health issues. Mental Health Care, 2, 273–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dellmann-Jenkins, M., & Brittain, L. (2003). Young adults’ attitudes toward filial responsibility and actual assistance to elderly family members. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 22, 214–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz, N., Siskowski, C., & Connors, L. (2007). Latino young caregivers in the United States: Who are they and what are the academic implications of this role? Child & Youth Care Forum, 36, 131–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doran, T., Drever, F., & Whitehead, M. (2003). Health of young and elderly informal carers: Analysis of UK census data. British Medical Journal, 327, 1388–1389.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drotar, D. (1994). Impact of parental health problems on children: Concepts, methods, and unanswered questions. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 19, 525–536.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Enns, M. W., Cox, B. J., & Clara, I. (2002). Parental bonding and adult psychopathology: Results from the US national comorbidity survey. Psychological Medicine, 32, 997–1008

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garmezy, N. (1993). Children in poverty: Resilience despite risk. Psychiatry, 56, 127–136.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gates, M. F., & Lackey, N. R. (1998). Youngsters caring for adults with cancer. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 30, 11–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haley, W. E. (2003). The costs of family care giving: Implications for geriatric oncology. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 48, 151–159.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hooker, K., Manoogian-O’Dell, M., Monahan, D. J., Frazier, L. D., & Shifren, K. (2000). Does type of disease matter? Gender differences among Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease spouse caregivers. The Gerontologist, 40, 568–573.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hooker, K., Monahan, D. J., Bowman, S. R., Frazier, L. D., & Shifren, K. (1998). Personality counts for a lot: Predictors of mental and physical health of spouse caregivers in two disease groups. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 53B, P73–P85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooker, K., Monahan, D., Shifren, K., & Hutchinson, C. (1992). Mental and physical health of spouse caregivers: The role of personality. Psychology and Aging, 7, 367–375.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, G., Levine, C., & Naiditch, L. (2005). Young caregivers in the U.S.: Findings from a national survey. Bethesda, MD: National Alliance for Caregiving, in collaboration with the United Hospital Fund. Available online at 222.uhfnyc.org.

  • Keigher, S., Zabler, B., Robinson, N., Fernandez, A., & Stevens, P. (2005). Young caregivers of mothers with HIV: Need for supports. Children and Youth Services Review, 27, 881–904.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lackey, N. R., & Gates, M. F. (1997). Combining the analyses of three data sets in studying young caregivers. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26, 664–671.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lackey, N. R., & Gates, M. F. (2001). Adults’ recollection of their experiences as young caregivers of family members with chronic physical illnesses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 34, 320–328.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luecken, L. J. (2000). Attachment and loss experiences during childhood are associated with adult hostility, depression, and social support. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 49, 85–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Masten, A. A., Coatsworth, J. D., Neemann, J., Gest, S. D., Tellegen, A., & Garmezy, N. (1995). The structure and coherence of competence from childhood through adolescence. Child Development, 66, 1635–1659.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Masten, A. S., Hubbard, J. J., Gest, S. D., Tellegen, A., Garmezy, N., & Ramirez, N. (1999). Competence in the context of adversity: Pathways to resilience and maladaptation from childhood to late adolescence. Developmental Psychopathology, 11, 143–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, B., Bunker, M., Compton, D., Kelley-Miller, G., & Siskowski, C. (2002). What works through the eyes of Palm Beach County 6–12th graders. Executive summary. West Palm Beach: Palm Beach Atlantic University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monahan, D. J., & Hooker, K. (1995). Health of spouse caregivers of dementia patients: The role of personality and social support. Social Work, 40, 305–314.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • National Alliance for Caregiving and the American Association of Retired Persons. (2004). Caregiving in the U.S. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pakenham, Ki. I., Bursnall, S., Chiu, J., Cannon, T., & Okachi, M. (2006). The psychsocial impact of caregiving on young people who have a parent with an illness or disability: Comparisons between young caregivers and non-caregivers. Rehabilitation Psychology, 51, 113–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paquette, D. (2004). Theorizing the father–child relationship: Mechanisms and developmental outcomes. Human Development, 47, 193–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, G., Tupling, H., & Brown, L. B. (1979). A parental bonding instrument. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 52, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peirce, R. S., Frone, M. R., Russell, M., Cooper, M. L., & Mudar, P. (2000). A longitudinal model of social contact, social support, depression, and alcohol use. Health Psychology, 19, 28–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2003). Associations of stressors and uplifts of care giving with caregiver burden and depressive mood: A meta-analysis. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological sciences and Social Sciences, 58B, 112–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rizzo, V. M., & Kirkland, K. A. (2005). Adolescent reactions to parental cancer: Strategies for providing support. The Prevention Researcher, 12, 10–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, R., Visintainer, P., & Williamson, G. M. (1990). Psychiatric and physical morbidity effects of caregiving. Journal of Gerontology, 45, 181–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherbourne, C. D., & Stewart, A. L. (1991). The MOS social support survey. Social Science and Medicine, 32, 705–714.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shifren, K., & Kachorek, L. V. (2003). Does early caregiving matter? The effects on young caregivers’ adult mental health. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 27, 338–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siskowski, C. T. (2006). Young caregivers: Effect of family health situations on school performance. The Journal of School Nursing, 22, 163–169.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Surkan, P. J., Peterson, K. E., Hughes, M. D., & Gottlieb, B. R. (2006). The role of social networks and support in postpartum women’s depression: A multiethnic urban sample. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 10, 375–383.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tiet, Q. Q., Bird, H. R., Davies, M., Hoven, C., Cohen, P., Jensen, P. S., et al. (1998). Adverse life events and resilience. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37, 1191–2000.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ventura, S. J., Mosher, W. D., Curtin, S. C., Abma, J. C., & Henshaw, S. (2001). Trends in pregnancy rates for the United States, 1976–1997: An update. National Vital Statistics Reports, 49(4). Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics.

  • Verbrugge, L. M. (1989). The twain meet: Empirical explanations of sex differences in health and mortality. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 30, 282–304.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vitaliano, P. P., Zhang, J., & Scanlan, J. M. (2003). Is care giving hazardous to one’s physical health? A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 946–972.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vrabec, N. J. (1997). Literature review of social support and caregiver burden, 1980 to 1995. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 29, 383–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Dr. Shifren thanks the Faculty Development and Research Committee of Towson University for their funds to offset the cost of recruitment letters and brochures. Dr. Shifren is deeply grateful to the Baltimore County Department of Aging, and the National Family Caregivers Association for their efforts to distribute information on this study. Special thanks to Lauren Kachorek, Ph.D., Tjingaita Connie Uapingena, Heidi Schreiber-Pan, Misty Requarth, and Patricia Ruppert for their help with participant recruitment. I greatly appreciate the time and effort given by each individual who participated in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD, 21252-0001, USA

    Kim Shifren

Authors
  1. Kim Shifren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kim Shifren.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shifren, K. Early Caregiving: Perceived Parental Relations and Current Social Support. J Adult Dev 15, 160–168 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-008-9047-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-008-9047-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation