Translating Basic Research on the Aging Family to Caregiving Intervention: The Case of Within-Family Differences

Abstract

Since its inception, the field of gerontology has sought to establish optimal connections between the scientific activities of researchers and the real-world concerns of practitioners and clinicians. The concept of translational research has emerged in recent years as a model for bridging the gap between science and service. This article provides an example of how basic research findings can be translated to provide guidance for intervention in the area of family caregiving. We review findings from an innovative program of research on within-family differences, which extends theory and research from the developmental psychological study of children to the family in later life. The within-family difference perspective focuses on how the individual parent–child dyads in a particular family differ from and are affected by other dyads. Basic research on this topic has revealed the extent of parental favoritism in later life, factors related to parental differential treatment of offspring, and the consequences of such favoritism and treatment on sibling relationship quality and psychological well-being. Four examples are provided of ways in which attention to within-family differences research could enhance caregiving interventions.

Roles of egos’ and siblings’ perceptions of maternal favoritism in adult children’s depressive symptoms: A within-family network approach

“…Thus, the present article contributes to a growing literature demonstrating the importance of employing within-family and mixed-methods designs to study the role of family relations in well-being. Despite recent calls for more emphasis on both of these approaches, particularly to study the complex ways in which family relations affect well-being (Creswell et al, 2011;Peterson et al, 2013;Pillemer & Gilligan, 2018, Suitor & Gilligan, In press, Suitor et al, 2017b, such designs are still rare, due to the substantial investment of financial and human resources they require. We hope that despite these obstacles, such design features become more common in the research on interpersonal relations and well-being.…”

Innovation in Aging’s Calling Card: Translational Significance

“…IA will continue to build on its track record in convergence aging science. Some of our most prominent examples include a systems science approach to human capital to rethink engagement over the life span ( Morrow-Howell et al, 2017 ), research on within-family differences to link early parent–child relationships and family dynamics in later life ( Pillemer & Gilligan, 2018 ), and assessment of the built environment and human factors to distinguish aging effects and disability ( Mitzner et al, 2018 ). IA offers a venue for people to think outside of the box as they complete our blue box for translational significance.…”

Gentle Physical Activity Intervention Led by Caregivers in a Medicaid Home Care Program: Do Outcomes Differ Between Family and Nonfamily Caregiving Dyads?

“…Physical activity intervention activities may work as an extension of ongoing family activities defined by the family norms or expectations. 14 Thus, a home care-based physical activity intervention may lead to larger changes in HCAs’ roles and client outcomes in nonfamily dyads than in family dyads. We are not aware of any empirical studies that examined differences in family and nonfamily caregiving dyads’ outcomes of a home care-based health promotion intervention.…”