Measuring older adults' filial responsibility expectations: exploring the application of a vignette technique and an item scale

This study focused on two conceptually distinct measures of the filial responsibility expectations of older adults: a vignette technique and an attitude item scale. Data were based on 1,553 respondents aged 61 to 92 years who participated in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam in 1998 to 1999. The results showed that the item scale had multiple dimensions of filial expectations. Older adults distinguished between emotional-, instrumental-, contact-, and information-oriented expectations. The vignette technique resulted in a unidimensional measurement of expectations. The intercorrelation between the scores of the item scale and vignette technique was modest, indicating a certain amount of overlap. Child characteristics incorporated into the vignettes added to the specificity of measurements of the filial expectations. The authors observed that older adults were more likely to have expectations for care from an adult child who is not employed and does not have children. Minor differences between sons and daughters were observed. © 2005 Sage Publications

Promotion of self-management in vulnerable older people: a narrative literature review of outcomes of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP)

With ageing, older people can become frail, and this has been shown to be associated with a decrease in well-being. Observational studies provide evidence of a positive effect of coping resources on well-being. The question is: can coping resources be improved in vulnerable older people? The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a target group-specific intervention which aims to promote the self-management of older people who are confronted with deteriorating health. The aim of this study was to review intervention studies focusing on the CDSMP and to draw conclusions on the benefits of the program. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and PsychINFO to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on the CDSMP. Nine RCTs focusing on relatively young older adults, 75% of whom with an average age between 49 and 65 years, were included. We found that the CDSMP was consistently beneficial for Health behaviour, especially with regard to the variables of exercise and self-care. For Health status, the majority of studies only showed improvement in the domain of health distress. Most of the studies that investigated Self-efficacy showed convincing improvement in self-efficacy, cognitive symptom management and mental stress management. In Health care utilization, there was no significant decrease. On the whole, the studies showed that CDSMP led to an increase in physical exercise, a decrease in health distress, an improvement in self-care, and it had a beneficial effect on self-efficacy

Sibling influence on care given by children to older parents

This study examines the degree to which siblings’ behaviors and characteristics influence a child’s caregiving. A sample of 186 older parents in need of care with at least two adult children reported on characteristics and caregiving of all their children (N = 703). Multilevel regression models show that there is evidence of children’s joint caregiving efforts: The more care siblings give, the more care the child gives. Results demonstrate that the more sisters a child has, the less care that child gives. Children also substitute and support each other: The greater the number of siblings with partners and the lower the frequency of sibling emotional support exchanges with a parent, the more care the child gives. The study reflects the various outcomes of sibling solidarity when older parents become dependent