Generational Juggling

Fingerman, Karen L.; Birditt, Kira S.; Nussbaum, Jon F.; Ebersole, Diana S.

doi:10.4324/9780203848166.ch6

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Although caregiving involves both benefits and challenges, midlife adult children are at a high risk for negative experiences [ 2 ]. Midlife adults juggle multiple roles (as spouse, parent, and professional) [ 3 , 4 ], while managing the many needs of an aging parent with hematological cancer. Moreover, blood cancer caregiving can involve unpredictable challenges, as the cancer and its treatments affect the immune system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult-Child Caregivers’ Family Communication Experiences after an Older Parent’s Blood Cancer Diagnosis: A Survey Exploring Their Openness, Avoidance, and Social Support

Wright

Bylund

Vasquez

et al. 2023

Cancers

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Adult-child caregivers of an aging parent living with a blood cancer describe struggling to communicate with one another and within the family system. They may avoid critical care conversations, which may impede care and their ability to receive social support. We examined what approaches adult-child caregivers of a parent diagnosed with a blood cancer use to enhance their family communication, the topics they find most challenging to discuss, and the roles of openness and support. We used qualitative and quantitative approaches to analyze data from a larger online survey study. In partnership with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, we recruited 121 adult-child caregivers. Responses to one open-ended item were analyzed to capture strategies used to enhance communication with their parent and family. They reported utilizing digital communication modalities, prioritizing frequent communication, engaging in openness, establishing boundaries, kinkeeping, and enacting support. Within the quantitative data, we further explored two of these themes (openness and support) and their relationships to other variables using t-tests and regression analysis. Adult-child caregivers and diagnosed parents avoid talking about mortality and negative feelings. Openness in the family about cancer was linked to caregivers’ perceptions of receiving social support. Findings demonstrate that cultivating openness between midlife adult children and diagnosed parents may enhance opportunities to receive support.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult-Child Caregivers’ Family Communication Experiences after an Older Parent’s Blood Cancer Diagnosis: A Survey Exploring Their Openness, Avoidance, and Social Support

Wright

Bylund

Vasquez

et al. 2023

Cancers

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“…In addition, the caregiving experience is shaped by the caregiver's place in the lifespan. Cancer caregiving in midlife often requires the caregiver to manage the health of both younger and older generations, while juggling professional, romantic, and personal responsibilities (Fingerman et al, 2003; Litzelman, 2019; Zarit et al, 2019). Studies of middle-aged familial cancer caregivers have prioritized spousal and parental caregivers, giving less attention to adult children caring for a parent (Litzelman, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A lifespan approach to understanding family caregiver experiences of a blood cancer diagnosis

et al. 2021

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Objectives The study examined the diagnosis experience of midlife family caregivers of a patient with a blood cancer, exploring similarities and differences between parent caregivers and adult-child caregivers. Methods Participants were between 30 and 65 years old and were family caregivers of a living patient with acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or lymphoma. We conducted semi-structured interviews with parent caregivers (n = 20) and adult-child caregivers (n = 19) and a thematic analysis of the interview data. Results Both types of caregivers report the patient experiencing (1) mis- and missed diagnosis (facing delayed diagnosis or treatment and having symptoms dismissed or overlooked) and (2) emotional distress (being in shock and survival mode, struggling with uncertainty, and confronting mortality). Adult-child caregivers also experienced relational shifts in assuming control of their parent's care, sometimes despite geographic distance, and struggled to distribute the care burden among family members. Significance of results Differences between the caregivers’ experiences emerged based on the relational role and the patient's place in the lifespan. Findings can be used to inform the development of support resources to address the needs of each group.

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“…Often adult children become the primary caregiver of diagnosed parents, a role that is uncompensated, takes significant time and energy that can span for years, and involves physical, emotional, social, and financial tasks (Kent et al, 2016). While cancer affects the entire family and how members function and relate as a system (Bengtson et al, 2005; Elder et al, 2003; Pecchioni et al, 2005), this may be further complicated for midlife adult child caregivers juggling multiple households, familial responsibilities, and careers (Fingerman et al, 2004; Fisher et al, 2021; Tolkacheva et al, 2010). Midlife adults are “sandwiched” between generations and often tasked with “juggling” multiple roles at once (i.e., for younger loved ones as parents of children and for older loved ones like caring for parents) (Fingerman et al, 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While cancer affects the entire family and how members function and relate as a system (Bengtson et al, 2005; Elder et al, 2003; Pecchioni et al, 2005), this may be further complicated for midlife adult child caregivers juggling multiple households, familial responsibilities, and careers (Fingerman et al, 2004; Fisher et al, 2021; Tolkacheva et al, 2010). Midlife adults are “sandwiched” between generations and often tasked with “juggling” multiple roles at once (i.e., for younger loved ones as parents of children and for older loved ones like caring for parents) (Fingerman et al, 2004). Although less explored, understanding adult child caregivers’ experiences from a family systems lens is warranted (Kizza & Muliira, 2020; Mitrani et al, 2005; Sutter et al, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult sibling-related experiences while caring for a parent diagnosed with a blood cancer.

Bagautdinova¹,

Bylund²,

Kastrinos³

et al. 2023

Families, Systems, & Health

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Introduction: An older parent’s blood cancer diagnosis impacts the entire family system, including adult siblings, an often overlooked subsystem of the family. Yet, adult siblings are typically involved in their parents’ care needs. We explored sibling-related experiences adult child caregivers identify while caring for a parent diagnosed with a blood cancer to capture information useful for caregiving intervention development. Method: Fifteen adult child caregivers with at least 1 sibling participated in an in-depth, semistructured interview. Participants were 87% white and 80% daughters. A majority of caregivers were in midlife (M age = 44), with parents diagnosed between age 56 and 90. A thematic analysis was conducted on transcripts using the constant comparative method. Results: Caregivers described 3 types of sibling-related experiences that centered on (a) caregiving responsibilities (e.g., sharing/not sharing tasks; challenging feelings about lack of involvement); (b) expectations about the caregiver role (e.g., gender, family status, and birth order expectations); and (c) coping together and apart (e.g., receiving information together, enhanced relationships, divergent maladaptive coping). Discussion: Findings illustrate how a parent’s blood cancer diagnosis can enhance the sibling bond and family system as well as contribute to tension, particularly regarding the experiences of not sharing caregiving tasks or having divergent approaches to coping. Findings also provide insight into areas in which supportive interventions or resources are needed (e.g., helping siblings talk about caregiving involvement) to promote healthy family functioning after a blood cancer diagnosis.

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Generational Juggling

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Adult-Child Caregivers’ Family Communication Experiences after an Older Parent’s Blood Cancer Diagnosis: A Survey Exploring Their Openness, Avoidance, and Social Support

Adult-Child Caregivers’ Family Communication Experiences after an Older Parent’s Blood Cancer Diagnosis: A Survey Exploring Their Openness, Avoidance, and Social Support

A lifespan approach to understanding family caregiver experiences of a blood cancer diagnosis

Adult sibling-related experiences while caring for a parent diagnosed with a blood cancer.

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