Reciprocity and Affection

Abstract

Why do families provide care to their older relatives? Familial obligation emerges as a major motivator but does not sufficiently explain the variation in caregiving commitment which has been documented in previous research. This paper explores the influence of affection and reciprocity on the caregiving behavior and experiences of 203 individuals identified as the primary caregiver to an older frail relative. Findings indicate that while close affective relations were the norm, caregiving could and did take place in their absence. Past relationships were also characterized by a flow of services from the older relative to the current caregiver. Reciprocity was found to be significantly related to the amount of help given by the caregiver but not to the impact of caregiving, while affection is positively correlated to the level of commitment and negatively correlated to the level of perceived stress. Implications for professionals who work with family caregivers are discussed.