Role Ambiguity Among Women Providing Care for Ex-Husbands

Twenty-one women were interviewed regarding their caregiving experiences for ill or dying ex-husbands. Emergent in the analyses was the variety of ways in which they experienced role ambiguity as ex-wife caregivers. This article describes the role ambiguity ex-wife caregivers encountered interperson...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of women & aging 2014-01, Vol.26 (1), p.84-104
Main Authors: Cooney, Teresa M., Proulx, Christine M., Snyder-Rivas, Linley A., Benson, Jacquelyn J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Caregivers
Caregivers - psychology
caregiving
Conflict (Psychology)
Divorce
Dying
Family Relations
Female
Females
Humans
Husbands
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Middle Aged
Older people
Palliative care
Professional-Family Relations
Role
Role Ambiguity
Sex Roles
Social Support
Spouses
Women
Workplaces
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Twenty-one women were interviewed regarding their caregiving experiences for ill or dying ex-husbands. Emergent in the analyses was the variety of ways in which they experienced role ambiguity as ex-wife caregivers. This article describes the role ambiguity ex-wife caregivers encountered interpersonally through interactions with network members, institutionally in dealing with professionals and the workplace, and intrapersonally in confusion over their roles and feelings. Consequences of role ambiguity are discussed, and recommendations for policy and practice are made in light of the aging population, changing family forms, and women's care roles.
ISSN:0895-2841
1540-7322
DOI:10.1080/08952841.2014.859502