A Multivariate Comparison of the Involvement of Adult Sons Versus Daughters in the Care of Impaired Parents

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to explore whether gender differences in parent care (i.e., the greater participation of daughters) persisted after controlling for additional caregiver and care-receiver characteristics known to affect the provision of care. Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) was examined separately from assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). A multivariate analytical framework was employed to account for the effects of a wide range of variables. Moreover, data on all of the living children (N = 13,172) of a sample of impaired elders (N = 4,371) were used, not just data on those children who were known to be providing help. Net of other caregiver and care-receiver characteristics, daughters were 3.22 times more likely than sons to provide ADL assistance and 2.56 times more likely to provide IADL assistance. Although these results are not substantively different from previous research, the methodological approach taken provides a better empirical base for estimating the effect of gender on the probability of being involved in parent care.

Informal home care and labor-force participation of household members

“…Other studies confirm that men take over responsibility in caregiving (Carmichael and Charles, 2003b). However, Dwyer and Coward (1991) show that men usually provide help in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) which are easier to arrange around the work schedule while women are helping with activities of daily living (ADLs) which are ranked to be more time consuming. In this data set, 30,290…”

Caring for Mom and Neglecting Yourself? The Health Effects of Caring for an Elderly Parent

“…We know from cross-sectional studies that caregivers tend to be daughters, to be poorer, have lower opportunity cost of their time compared to siblings (Dwyer & Coward 1991), and live closer to parents compared to siblings, including being more likely to co-reside (see (McGarry 1998) for a review). Less is known about how health status affects selecting into caregiving.…”

Efficiency in Family Bargaining: Living Arrangements and Caregiving Decisions of Adult Children and Disabled Elderly Parents

“…The partnered (e.g., married) disabled elderly are likely to receive care from their partners (e.g., spouses) rather than from children (Dwyer and Coward 1991) and are less likely than the unpartnered to enter an institution (Freedman 1996). Thus, because of the costs they impose on government budgets, the unpartnered disabled elderly are a group of particular policy interest and we restrict our attention to them.…”