title: Expanding Constructions of Elder Abuse and Neglect: Older Mothers' Subjective Experiences.
abstract: This study examines elder abuse within the broader framework of parenting in later life and focuses on the experience of mothers with "difficult" adult children. The sample is low-income and minority older women (>62). Using constructive grounded theory, the analysis reveals that the women's lens as mothers informs their explanations for not being able to take action to limit their adult children's difficult/abusive behaviors. The author suggests the utility of incorporating a feminist framework that highlights adult child-to-mother violence as a means of increasing self-reporting of elder abuse and older women's willingness to accept services.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Social Service , Fordham University , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Judith R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting; D012923:Social Class
keywords: elder abuse; gerontology; intergenerational; mother/child relationships; mothering