Adaptive, growth-oriented, and positive perceptions of mother-daughter elder caregiving relationships: A path-analytic investigation of predictors

One hundred twenty-two pairs (n = 244) of filial caregivers (daughters) and care recipients (mothers) were interviewed separately, to investigate the factors underlying positive, growth-oriented caregiving relationships. The outcome variable examined was the type of caregiving pair (positive, negati ve, mixed, and neutral), as determined by "blind" raters. Based on existing research, factors examined as being significant predictors of this outcome variable were perceived roles (role changes, role relations) and individua l-difference characteristics (personality dimensions, fluid intellectual ab ility). The results of the path model tested support the importance of indi vidual-difference factors in understanding positive mother-daughter elder c aregiving relationships. (C) 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights res erved.