nach oben

European Journal of Ageing

Erschienen in:

01.03.2007 | Original Investigation

A possible innovative association between the concept of inter-generational ambivalence and the emotions of guilt and shame in care-giving

verfasst von: Anat Rappoport, Ariela Lowenstein

Erschienen in: European Journal of Ageing | Ausgabe 1/2007

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

The present article suggests a tentative new theoretical association between the concept of intergenerational ambivalence and the emotions of guilt and shame in care-giving. The article bases the above suggestion on the paradigm of intergenerational ambivalence as well as on existential and psychological emotion theories dealing with guilt and shame. In certain typical care-giving situations (e.g., leading to institutionalization of the elderly) feelings of guilt can mirror personal-subjective ambivalence (micro level ambivalence) while feelings of shame can mirror institutional-structural ambivalence (macro level ambivalence). The article exemplifies this idea, using an empirical study, which was conducted in Israel (1995), about guilt emotions of care-givers in the Kibbutz versus the city, concerning the institutionalization of an elderly parent. In order to support this innovative concept in the gerontological literature, more updated empirical proof is yet needed. Conclusions and implications of the association between guilt, shame and intergenerational ambivalence are discussed, from theoretical and practical perspectives.

Lazarus and Lazarus (1994) chose not to differentiate between anxiety and fright because the two terms are usually used interchangeably in everyday language.

The assumption is that the micro and macro levels of ambivalence are distinct, but yet connected. The same is true about guilt and shame: these are two distinct emotions, which are often connected. Since one’s moral internal values, which are the basis of guilt, has been learned through the socialization process, they are connected and often intertwined with one’s feelings of shame, which are external and have to do mostly with the individual’s link to society, and his need not to “loose face” in front of others (to be perceived in a positive way by them).

The perception of the kibbutz as “one big family” was typical at the time the study of Lowenstein and Rachman, which was conducted in 1994. Today, the kibbutz community is going through major changes, including a change in ideological and social structure and this statement may not be an accurate description of the perceptions of all kibbutz members.

Methodologically, the study used both qualitative and quantitative tools: interviews and questionnaires. Reported here are only the quantitative data. The relevant question asked was how often had the care-giver felt guilty after his decision to institutionalize the elderly. Each care-giver had to choose between one of the three possibilities: very often, occasionally, on rare occasions. N = 41 care-givers in the city, N = 10 in the Kibbutz. Average age of care-givers: 48 in the city, 47.3 in the Kibbutz. In the city, the average age of the elderly was 79.8. In the Kibbutz, this average was 80.

The data in the study by Lowenstein and Rachman (1995) was based on interviews and questionnaires administered to the caregivers. The questions had to do with factors relating to the decision to institutionalize, variables having to do with intergenerational relationships (visits, phone calls, frequency of meetings etc.), and a question whether family members believe that they made the right decision about institutionalization. There were no direct questions referring to feelings of ambivalence.

One may wonder why the feeling of guilt is a typical theme in the academic literature of gerontology while feelings of shame appear much less frequently. A possible answer is the typical characterization of shame as the tendency to hide it from the eyes of others.

Ainsworth MD (1978) Patterns of attachment: a psychological study of the strange situation. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale

Bauman Z (1991) Modernity and ambivalence. Cornell university press, Ithaca

Bedford OA (2004) The individual experience of guilt and shame in Chinese culture. Cult Psychol 10(1):29–52CrossRef

Bengtson VL, Roberts RE (1991) Intergenerational solidarity in aging families: an example of formal theory construction. J Marriage Fam 53:856–870CrossRef

Bengtson V, Giarrusso R, Mabry B, Silverstein M (2002) Solidarity, conflict and ambivalence: complimentary or competing perspectives on intergenerational relationships? J Marriage Fam 64:568–576CrossRef

Berman JH (1987) Children and their parents: irredeemable obligation and irreplaceable loss. J Gerontol Soc Work 10(1/2):21–34CrossRef

Connidis IA (2001) Family ties and aging. Thousand Oaks, California, Sage Publications

Covert MV, Tangney JP, Maddux JE, Heleno NM (2003) Shame-proneness, guilt-proneness, and interpersonal problem solving: a social cognitive analysis. J Soc Clin Psychol 22(1):1–12CrossRef

Creighton M (1988) Revisiting shame and guilt cultures: a forty-year pilgrimage. Ethos 18:279–307CrossRef

Cyr B, Schafft G (1980) Nursing homes and the black elderly: utilization and satisfaction: final report, 1 October 1978–1 October 1979. Foundation of the American College of Nursing Home Administrators, Washington, DC

Dearing RL, Stuewig J, Tangney JP (2005) On the importance of distinguishing shame from guilt: relations to problematic alcohol and drug use. Addict Behav 30:1392–1404PubMedCrossRef

Fromm E (1965) Escape from freedom. Avon Books, New York

Freud S (1964) Totem and taboo. Hogart, London

Giarrusso R, Silverstein M, Gans D, Bengtson VL (2005) Aging parents and adult child: New perspectives on intergenerational relationships. In: Johnson M, Bengtson VL, Coleman PG, Kirwood T (eds) Cambridge handbook on aging, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 413–421

Grau L, Teresi J, Chandler B (1993) Demoralization among sons, daughters, spouses and other relatives of nursing home residents. Res Aging 15(3):324–345

Hasselkus BR (1988) Meaning in family care-giving: perspectives on caregiver professional relationships. Gerontologist 28(5):686–691PubMed

Jhonson MA, Werner C (1982) We had no choice. A study of familial guilt feelings surrounding nursing home care. J Gerontol Nurs 8(11):641–645

Katz R, Daatland SO, Lowenstein A et al (2003) Family norms and preferences in intergenerational relationship. In: Bengston VL, Lowenstein A (eds) Global aging and challenges to families. Aldine De Gruyter, New York, pp 305–326

Lazarus RS, Lazarus BN (1994) Passion and reason: making sense of our emotions. Oxford University Press, New York

Lettke F, Klein MD (2004) Methodological issues in assessing ambivalence in intergenerational relations. In: Pillemer K, Luescher K (eds) Intergenerational Ambivalences: New Perspectives on Parent-Child Relations in Later Life. Elsevier, Oxford pp 85–212

Lewis HB (1971) Shame and guilt in neurosis. International Universities Press, New York

Lowenstein A, Katz R, Prilutzky D, Mehlhausen-Hassoen D (2001) The intergenerational solidarity paradigm. In: Daatland SO, Herlofson K (eds) Ageing, intergenerational relations, care systems and quality of life. Norwegian Social Research, Oslo, pp 11–30

Lowenstein A (1989) Institutional placement decision making and impact on family relations of the elderly: a filial crisis. Paper Presented at the Annual Symposium of the European behavioral and Social Science Research Section of the International Association of Gerontology, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia

Lowenstein A, Rachman Y (1995) Factors involved in the process of the decision to institutionalize the elderly in a nursing home in the city vs the Kibbutz and the way these factors influence the relationships in the family. Gerontology, 70, 31–45. (in Hebrew)

Luescher K (1999) Ambivalence: A key concept for the study of intergenerational relationship. In: S. Trnka. Family Issues Between Gender and Generations. Seminar report, European observatory on family matters, Vienna

Luescher K (2004) Conceptualizing and uncovering intergenerational ambivalence. In: Pillemer K, Luescher K (eds) Intergenerational ambivalences: new perspectives on parent-child relations in later life. Elsevier, Oxford, pp 23–62

Luescher K, Pillemer K (1998) Intergenerational ambivalence: a new approach to the study of parent-child relations in later life. J Marriage Fam 60:413–425CrossRef

Marshall VM, Matthews SH, Rosenthal CJ (1993) Elusiveness of family life: a challenge for the sociology of aging. In: Maddox GL, Lawton MP (eds) Annual review of gerontology and geriatrics: focus on kinship, aging and social change. Springer, New York

McGannon A (1993) Families in distress: making a long-term placement for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Am J Alzheimer Care Relat Disord Res 8(1):2–5

Merton RK, Barber E (1963) Sociological ambivalence. In: Tityakian E (ed) Sociological theory: values and socio cultural change. Free Press, New York

Noelker LS, Wallace RW (1985) The organization of family care for impaired elderly. J Fam Issues 6:23–44

Paton D, Lustbader W (1994) Rx for caregivers take care of yourself. Seattle, WA: Wendy Lustbader (video)

Rosenthal CJ, Dawson P (1991) Wives of institutionalized elderly men: the first stage of the transition to quasi-widowhood. J Aging Health 3(3):315–334

Ryan AA, Scullion HF (2000) Nursing home placement: an exploration of family careers. J Adv Nurs 32(5):1187–1195PubMedCrossRef

Schwartz AN (1977) Survival handbook for children of aging parents. Follet Publishing, Chicago

Seelbach WC (1984) Filial responsibility and the care of aging family members. In: Quinn WH, Hughston GA (eds) Independent aging: family and social systems perspectives. Aspen, Rockville, pp 92–105

Shapira Z (1994) The contribution of social support to the welfare of the disabled elderly in the Kibbutz. Gerontology 66:14–24 (In Hebrew)

Smallegan M (1983) How families decide on nursing home admission. Geriatr Consult 1(5):21–24

Smelser NJ (1998) Presidential address 1997. Am Sociol Rev 63:1–15CrossRef

Stacey J (1990) Brave new families: stories of domestic upheaval in the late twentieth century America. Basic Books, New York

Tangney JP, Dearing RL (2002) Shame and guilt. Guilford, New York

Teresi J, Holmes D, Holmes M, Bergman S, King Y, Bentur N (1989) Factors relating to institutional risk among elderly members of Israeli Kibbutzim. Gerontologist 29(2):203–208PubMed

Tobin SS, Kulys R (1981) Family in the institutionalization of the elderly. J Soc Issues 37(3):145–157CrossRef

Virshup A (1999) Promises to keep. Smart Money 8(11):152–160

Weigert AJ (1991) Mixed emotions. State University Press, New York

Wentzel ML (1978) Emotional considerations in the institutionalization of an aged person. J Health Hum Resour Adm 1(2):177–185PubMed

Titel: A possible innovative association between the concept of inter-generational ambivalence and the emotions of guilt and shame in care-giving
verfasst von: Anat Rappoport
Ariela Lowenstein
Publikationsdatum: 01.03.2007
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in: European Journal of Ageing / Ausgabe 1/2007
Print ISSN: 1613-9372
Elektronische ISSN: 1613-9380
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-007-0046-4

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Bitte loggen Sie sich ein, um Zugang zu diesem Inhalt zu erhalten

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 1/2007

Lay perceptions of successful ageing: findings from a national survey of middle aged and older adults in Britain

Retirement age caregivers and deprivation of area of residence in England and Wales

Letting the “beginning of the beginning” behind

Association of unmet need with self-rated health in a community dwelling cohort of disabled seniors 75 years of age and over

Mobility assessment in older people: new possibilities and challenges

“Still the same and better off than others?”: social and temporal comparisons in old age