Differential Effects of Daughters' Marital Status on Their Parent Care Experiences

Abstract

This study compared the parent care experiences of five groups of daughters (N = 492) (married, remarried, separated/divorced, widowed, and never married). Data include demographic characteristics and measures of depression, positive affect, personality strength, health, social support, relationship quality, caregiving burden, caregiving mastery, and caregiving satisfaction. Women with husbands had more socio-emotional and instrumental support, much higher incomes, less financial strain from caregiving, and less depression. They felt their own particular marital status made caregiving easier than did the three groups of not-married women.