Daughters-in-law as caregivers: how and why do they come to care?
This exploratory qualitative study examines the family dynamics and socio-structural factors which explain how and why some women become caregivers to in-laws. As well, it explores prevailing attitudes about care by in-laws. Material is drawn retrospectively from three previous studies of caregivers in Montreal, Quebec, including 10 semi-structured interviews with daughters-in-law and 72 interviews with spousal and child caregivers. An exploratory framework of the factors which are determinant in becoming a daughter-in-law caregiver is proposed which includes such elements as: social and cultural norms regarding family responsibility for eldercare; social and cultural norms regarding the place and the rights of the elderly; rules of family relations, couple dynamics, gender dynamics and family availability.
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires