ERIC Number: EJ727367
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 19
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0091-4150
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Personal Experience of Aging in the Children of a Parent with Dementia
Gerritsen, Debby; Kuin, Volande; Steverink, Nardi
International Journal of Aging and Human Development, v58 n2 p147-165 2004
We investigated whether adults with a parent with dementia experience their personal aging differently than adults whose parents do not have dementia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 adults who had a parent with dementia and 25 controls. We found that, although in a general sense the two groups were quite similar in their personal experiences of aging, there were specific differences. The children of parents with dementia had a health-concept in which there was substantial emphasis on mental health. Moreover, they linked the dementia of their parent to their own aging and worried about developing a dementia syndrome themselves. They also held different attitudes with regard to end-of-life decisions. Finally, participants having a parent with dementia gave more extensive answers to simple questions. This overall response suggests more involvement with growing older and finitude in the children of parents with dementia.
Descriptors: Dementia, Parents, Older Adults, Aging (Individuals), Parent Influence, Mental Health, Attitude Measures, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Parents
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Netherlands
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A