Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Harold Griffin

Abstract

There are nearly 43.5 million informal caregivers (ICGs) in the United States, and this number will nearly double by 2030. Trying to fulfill the needs of an aging family member and commitments to work, home, and other relationships create a constant state of stress that may result in either leaving the workforce or placing the care recipient in a facility. Finding strategies that support both roles is economically and socially critical. This study explored the strategies that some ICGs have acquired that enable them to cope with these pressures. Work-family conflict theory, focusing on the conflict between work and family that can arise in elder care, was used to frame this study. This study used the interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA) to explore what coping strategies ICGs use to manage time, stress, and behavior conflicts between both work and caring. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 11 working ICGs taking care of a family member over the age of 71 residing in the same household. The IPA method of descriptive, linguistic, and conceptual data analysis was conducted revealing three themes. Findings indicated that dual-role ICGs employed a combination of passive coping techniques (acceding to the care recipient’s demands, calling up positive memories, and viewing caring as an investment that will pay off in the future) and commanding coping techniques (use of technology, planning ahead, and asserting boundaries with the care recipient). In addition, they relied on support from family and friends, as well as internal support from self-help aids and religious faith. This study shows despite the lack of assistance from the strain of care and work, dual-role ICGs have developed their own coping strategies to remain in both roles. This study may be a catalyst for improving the quality of care and health outcomes for both ICGs and care recipients by providing applicable coping and resource management strategies.

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