Dataset Information

The Ties That Bind: Midlife Parents' Daily Experiences With Grown Children.

ABSTRACT: Daily pleasant or stressful experiences with grown children may contribute to parental well-being. This diary study focused on midlife parents' (N = 247) reports regarding grown children for 7 days. Nearly all parents (96%) had contact with a child that week via phone, text, or in person. Nearly all parents shared laughter or enjoyable interactions with grown children during the study week. More than half of parents experienced stressful encounters (e.g., child got on nerves) or stressful thoughts about grown children (e.g., worrying, fretting about a problem). Pleasant and stressful experiences with grown children were associated with parents' positive and negative daily moods. A pleasant experience with a grown child the same day as a stressful experience mitigated effects of those stressful experiences on negative mood, however. The findings have implications for understanding intergenerational ambivalence and stress buffering in this tie.

SUBMITTER: Fingerman KL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4807606 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The Ties That Bind: Midlife Parents' Daily Experiences With Grown Children.

Fingerman Karen L KL Kim Kyungmin K Birditt Kira S KS Zarit Steven H SH

Journal of marriage and the family 20151221 2

Daily pleasant or stressful experiences with grown children may contribute to parental well-being. This diary study focused on midlife parents' (<i>N</i> = 247) reports regarding grown children for 7 days. Nearly all parents (96%) had contact with a child that week via phone, text, or in person. Nearly all parents shared laughter or enjoyable interactions with grown children during the study week. More than half of parents experienced stressful encounters (e.g., child got on nerves) or stressful ...[more]

PMID: 27022198

Similar Datasets

Project description:IntroductionVosoritide is the first approved pharmacological treatment for achondroplasia and is indicated for at-home injectable administration by a trained caregiver. This research aimed to explore parents' and children's experience of initiating vosoritide and administering this treatment at home.MethodsQualitative telephone interviews were conducted with parents of children being treated with vosoritide in France and Germany. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsFifteen parents participated in telephone interviews in September and October 2022. The median age of children in this sample was 8 years old (range 3-13 years) and children had been taking treatment from 6 weeks to 13 months. Four themes document families' experience with vosoritide: (1) awareness of vosoritide treatment, uncovering that parents first heard of vosoritide through their own research, patient advocacy groups, or through their physicians; (2) treatment understanding and decision-making, which found that their decision to take treatment is based on a desire to relieve future medical complications and increase height for improved independence, and they consider the extent to which the treatment has severe side effects; (3) training and initiation, which showed that the hospital initiation and training sessions varied considerably both across and within countries, with different treatment centres taking different approaches; and (4) managing treatment at home brings psychological and practical challenges, which are ultimately overcome with perseverance and available support.ConclusionsParents and children are resilient to challenges posed by a daily injectable treatment and highly motivated to improve their quality of life. Parents are prepared to overcome short-term treatment challenges for future gains in terms of health and functional independence for their children. Greater support could ensure they have the right information to initiate treatment and manage treatment at home, which will improve parents' and children's experience.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a heritable connective tissue disease caused by a defect in FBN1. The diagnosis is based on the revised Ghent criteria. The main features involve the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, ophthalmic, pulmonary systems and facial features. Although the clinical manifestations of MFS in children are thoroughly addressed in several studies, literature on the impact of MFS on daily functioning is restricted to pediatric advice on sports and leisure participation. Therefore, the full impact of MFS on daily functioning remains unclear. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore parents' perspectives on the impact of MFS on daily functioning of children with MFS aged 4-12 years, themselves and family regarding functional performance, activities, participation, personal and environmental factors, and disease burden. METHODS:In this qualitative study parents participated in individual semi-structured interviews (n = 10) and 3 focus groups (n = 5, n = 5 and n = 6). Meetings were transcribed, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Meaningful concepts were coded, and concepts concerning children with MFS were linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth. Thereafter themes were identified and interpreted. RESULTS:Parents reported their children could not keep up with peers because of fatigue, pain and physical impairments. Children experienced participation restrictions in school, sports, play and other leisure activities. Parents reported their child as being different due to physical appearance, which provoked unsupportive attitudes. Parental burden was caused by high care needs, lack of support, a limited social life, and concerns about the child's development. Family burden was caused by adjusted and complex family schedules, other family members with MFS, and reproductive planning decision-making, whereas family cohesiveness and caring were positively perceived factors. CONCLUSIONS:Parents perceived a large impact of MFS on daily functioning of their children with MFS, themselves and their family. More awareness among all professionals involved in the care of children with MFS and their families is needed so that professionals can address their support needs and provide tailored interventions, rehabilitation and/or educational programs to empower and improve daily functioning of the children, parents and family.

Dataset Information

The Ties That Bind: Midlife Parents' Daily Experiences With Grown Children.

Publications

The Ties That Bind: Midlife Parents' Daily Experiences With Grown Children.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets