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Non‐supportive interactions in the experience of women family caregivers
Author(s) -
Neufeld Anne,
Harrison Margaret J.,
Hughes Karen,
Stewart Miriam
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
health and social care in the community
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.984
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1365-2524
pISSN - 0966-0410
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2007.00716.x
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , psychology , typology , context (archaeology) , dementia , family caregivers , content analysis , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , qualitative research , disease , medicine , nursing , paleontology , social science , archaeology , pathology , sociology , biology , history
Abstract The purpose of this ethnographic study was to identify and describe types of non‐supportive interactions perceived by 59 women family caregivers in four diverse situations. Participants included 15 mothers of infants born prematurely, 14 mothers of a child with a chronic disease (asthma or diabetes), and women caring for an adult family member with either cancer (15) or dementia (15). Data collection methods included an initial in‐depth interview with all women, followed by a second interview with a smaller group of caregivers including a card sort exercise that was based on thematic content analysis of the first interview data. A typology of non‐supportive interactions was developed from analysis of the first two interviews and confirmed in a final interview with a subset of study participants. Interviews were audio‐taped and transcribed verbatim. Women in all caregiving situations described experience with three types of non‐supportive interactions. These interactions were negative, ineffective, or lacking expected support. The women's appraisal of interactions as supportive or non‐supportive was rooted in their personal expectations and the context of their situation. Information about types of non‐supportive interactions can sensitise professionals, family and friends to mismatches between their assistance and caregivers’ requirements, potentially avoiding negative consequences.