Methodological issues in male caregiver research: an integrative review of the literature

Houde, Susan Crocker

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02423.x

Cited by 61 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…In a similar review, Kneebone and Martin (2003) included 16 studies based on Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) stress and coping model among caregivers of people with dementia, and concluded that a general tendency toward problem-solving and acceptance is helpful to these caregivers. Houde (2002) provided a review of 36 studies from the CINAHL database (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000) for the purpose of identifying methodological concerns in research on gender differences among caregivers. Houde cited the need for larger sample sizes, more well-controlled intervention studies, and additional analyses based on gender in future studies.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long Distance Caregiving: An Evaluative Review of the Literature

2010

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A comprehensive and evaluative review of empirical research published between 2000 and 2010 specific to long distance caregiving is provided to identify what is known about this subgroup of caregivers and to identify gaps in knowledge. We searched peer-reviewed journals included in the following databases: Academic Search Premier (EBSCO), PROQuest Direct, Social Work Abstracts, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsychInfo. Searches were restricted to English language publications between 2000 and 2010. Search terms included: 'review + caregiving + dementia', 'meta-analyses + caregiving + dementia,' 'caregiving + dementia + not institutional,' 'informal + caregiving,' 'family + caregiving', 'caregiving + technology'. Any searches including the term 'dementia' were repeated without that term. These same searches were repeated with the term 'distance' added to each. Empirical research specific to long distance caregiving is reviewed in detail. A brief review is provided of other closely related research. Long distance caregivers report being heavily involved in the care of their family member, regardless of distance and surprisingly, are often the only or primary caregiver. The specific needs for future research to inform best practice that goes beyond description of this important subgroup of caregivers is discussed.While a great deal has been written on many aspects of caregiving for older persons, very little empirical research has been published specific to informal care provided by families to its elderly relatives who are living at a great geographic distance from

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long Distance Caregiving: An Evaluative Review of the Literature

2010

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“…This is why studies with a wider definition of caring activities (e.g. Ekwall et al 2004;Lee et al 1993, Spitze and Logan 1990, Stoller 1990) make men's caring activities more visible, and is also why Houde (2002), examining the role of gender and relationships in the caregiving experience, has argued that there is a lack of research on male caregivers, especially when it comes to male caregivers' experiences of being involved in a caregiving relationship.…”

Section: Caregiving Men In Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Men do care! : A gender-aware and masculinity-informed contribution to caregiving scholarship

Wallroth

2016

Linköping Studies in Arts and Sciences

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In caregiving literature, it is often the female gender that has been the focus of attention, and in particular women's unpaid labor. Studies also tend to make comparisons between men's and women's caregiving, using men's caregiving experiences to show not only that women face greater burdens, but also that men's needs can be disregarded. This means that while gender analyses are not uncommon in the caregiving literature, gender tends to be equated with womanhood. The research problem that this dissertation addresses is therefore the gender bias that characterizes caregiving scholarship at present and the fact that this bias is impeding us from moving the debates on care and caregiving forward. The aim of the dissertation is twofold. Firstly, it attempts to contribute to the rectification of the gender bias in question by focusing on men's caregiving and answering the following research questions: What motivates men to provide care for their elderly parents? How do adult sons experience caregiving? What do adult sons think that care and caregiving are, i.e. what are their perspectives on care? Secondly, this dissertation also aims to explore whether a gender-aware and masculinity-informed perspective can be used to enhance our understanding of caregiving. Thus, through a phenomenological analysis of interviews with 19 caregiving adult sons and sons-in-law, this dissertation discusses how motives, experiences and perspectives, which have so far been interpreted as unique to women, are also matters that men talk about and consider important in caregiving. The dissertation argues therefore that much could be gained if we were to rectify the gender bias that characterizes the literature on family caregiving and explore caregiving men in the genderaware and masculinity-informed way that is lacking in this literature at present. Inspired by the debate within studies of masculinity, the dissertation argues that within the debate on care there is a hegemony of care which has so far tended to exclude men's perspectives on caregiving because literature on family caregiving has regarded women as the ideal caregivers. This dissertation shows that a gender-aware and masculinity-informed perspective on care can increase our understanding of family caregiving and contribute to the rectification of the gender bias that care research suffers from. Against this backdrop, it is proposed that caregiving men should not solely be regarded as empirically interesting. This is because they are an unexploited and theoretically profuse source of information about caregiving.

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“…Additional exploration of the roles of male carers (Kramer & Thompson, 2002) and research that explores the interactions between male identity, masculinity, and caring will illuminate the gendered nature of caring by male caters and the ways in which caring identities influence the older husband's transition into caring (Gollins, 2001). Particular areas for future investigation include developing models of family caregiving which take account of older husband carers; ways in which both policy and services can be developed to support this unique group of carers; studies that include larger samples of male carers, including older husbands as current and former carers (Wright, 1998); and work that explores the impact of the changing nature of marriage on caring patterns and commitments (Houde, 2002;Gollins, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Isn’t he wonderful?” Exploring the contribution and conceptualization of older husbands as carers

Milne

Hatzidimitriadou

2003

Ageing Int.

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This paper explores the relationship between the dimensions of a debate cited at the intersection of ageing, gender, and family care. It draws together evidence from the General Household Survey for Britain 2000 and social research to explore the contribution and conceptualization of caring by older husbands. UK research on caring reveals that among older spouses, equal numbers of husbands and wives provide intensive care. It has been argued that within late-life marriage an over-riding desire to retain independence erodes gender-determined task allocation, suggesting not only similarity but equality between wives and husbands as carers. More recent qualitative research challenges this assumption and suggests two key findings: that older husbands are motivated to care by a combination of marital duty and reciprocal love, and that they manage the tasks of caring within an instrumental framework. Further, it is clear that pre-existing gender relations continue to be powerful determinants of the experience of caring, and that marital power is retained by men in late-life marriage. Overall, the caring contribution of older husbands is imbued with positive meaning, is highly valued, and offers a distinctive role and identity; this contrasts sharply with the caring experiences of older wives.

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Methodological issues in male caregiver research: an integrative review of the literature

Abstract: There is a need for caregiver research that has larger samples of males, and includes analysis by gender and family relationship. There is also a need for more intervention studies that are well controlled, and evaluate the effect of the intervention on both male and female caregivers.

Cited by 61 publications

References 42 publications

Long Distance Caregiving: An Evaluative Review of the Literature

Long Distance Caregiving: An Evaluative Review of the Literature

Men do care! : A gender-aware and masculinity-informed contribution to caregiving scholarship

“Isn’t he wonderful?” Exploring the contribution and conceptualization of older husbands as carers

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