Social Antecedents of Learned Helplessness in the Health Care Setting1

Adult daughters as caregivers to elderly parents : an exploration of the care relationship

“…However, this relationship appears to vary, and may be specified by the control variable of parental impairment in that low levels of impairment strengthen, and high levels of impairment weaken the original relationship. Despite this specification, in situations of both high and low parental impairment a moderate association persists, which supports the arguments proposed by Seligman (1975), Solomon (1982) and Langer (1983) that helplessness or dependency may be induced in the elderly person, not necessarily as a result of declining capacity, but from the process of being helped. n responsibility for parent care" by the independent variable "birth cohort of caregiver."…”

“…There is considerable literature to support the development of learned dependency, with some evidence specific to elderly persons (Seligman, 1975;Solomon, 1982;Langer, 1983 Bengtson (1973), and supported by others (Estes, 1979;and Langer, 1983 The selection of adult daughters as caregivers, rather than sons, is not to suggest a lack of interest or involvement by sons. Rather it is based on a greater probability of parent caregiving from daughters, as noted 1 The category "adult daughters" includes natural and adoptive daughters, step-daughters and daughters-in-law, and is used in this sense hereafter unless otherwise specified.…”

“…is posed as an extension of the literature review on autonomy, and is related specifically to the phenomenon of learned helplessness or self-induced dependency, as described by Seligman (1975), Solomon (1982) andLanger (1983). With variation, these authors argue that elderly persons are particularly susceptible to losses in personal autonomy in that instrumental control of their day-to-day lives is reduced.…”

Senior citizens and their dining-out traits: Implications for restaurants

“…Researchers generally accept control as a ''human driving force'' (Hui and Bateson, 1991). Solomon (1982) and Adler (1991) contended that feelings of powerlessness and helplessness become more common attributes for mature individuals. Mature consumers, like younger age segments, seek and need social company.…”

Learned Helplessness in the Elderly

“…A second area of acute loss is the loss of role of the elderly. Rosow (1976) and Solomon (1979a;1981a;1981b;1982a;in press) have discussed the transition from institutionalized roles to tenuous and informal roles elsewhere. Solomon has also discussed the difficulty elderly men have in finding outlets for the traditional masculine role (Solomon, 1982b;1984).…”