Sibling Conflict and Caregiving for Aging Parents

  • Jennifer Elise Lawer

    Student thesis: Doctoral ThesisDoctor of Philosophy

    Abstract

    This dissertation presents the results of a grounded theory study of the key factors of sibling conflict when caregiving for an aging parent. Following interviews with 30 participants, I conducted initial coding, focused coding and theoretical coding, which led to the development of a theory that explains the relationship of conflict factors such as: beliefs & values, feelings & emotions, roles & expectations, and behaviors & responses. The dissertation includes a discussion of how birth order theories, power theories and psychodynamic theories apply to sibling conflict. In addition, I discuss how the findings apply to conflict resolution skills and offer recommendations of how emotional intelligence, reflective listening, interest-based problem solving, assertion and personal reflections may expand people’s capacity to improve how they manage sibling conflict during the caregiving process.
    Date of AwardJan 1 2021
    Original languageEnglish
    SupervisorElena Bastidas (Supervisor), Neil Katz (Advisor) & Robin Cooper (Advisor)

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