TO CARE OR NOT TO CARE: CONTENT ANALYSIS OF MEDIA COVERAGE ABOUT ADULT CHILDREN CARING FOR PARENTAL PERPETRATORS

Abstract

Abstract Though research about adult child survivors of childhood parental maltreatment who serve as caregivers for their perpetrating parent remains in its infancy, this topic has received some media attention in recent years. These publications, mainly focused on what, if any, duty an adult child survivor of parental childhood maltreatment has to care for their aging/ill parent, have garnered hundreds of online responses from readers that reveal vastly different beliefs, attitudes, and opinions about such caregivers. Content analysis was conducted on 513 comments across 5 online publications including the New York Times New Old Age blog, AgingCare blog, Slate Magazine, and Quora discussion forum. Several themes emerged from the data: (1) feelings of obligation; (2) setting boundaries; (3) validation of experience; (4) judgment of choices. It is evident from this analysis that the shame and stigma of being harmed by a parent in childhood persists into adulthood and the isolation of caregiving is palpable; participants posted to this online forum seeking connection in shared experience. The decision to participate in caregiving is particularly fraught when there is a history of maltreatment in the family system. For those who decide to become caregivers, they are at higher risk for experiencing ongoing challenges to their health, mental health, and overall wellbeing; for those who do not, they may still experience emotional turmoil. Gerontological researchers and clinicians’ heightened awareness of and knowledge about such caregivers’ experiences and needs are crucial to provide effective, trauma-informed support.