The influence of age stratification on motives for and outcomes of caregiving in mothers and daughters

approved: Redacted for privacy Dr. -Alexis J. Walker The importance of developmental stages as well as cohort experiences has not been considered in family caregiving literature although both caregiving daughters and care-receiving mothers represent different age groups. The conceptual bases of the age stratification model and the life course perspective suggest that mothers in different age groups, as well as daughters in different age groups, might perceive the experience of care-receiving and caregiving differently. The current study compared caregiving motives, caregiving outcomes, and the association between caregiving motives and its outcomes between 85 middle-aged (age range 35-54) and 73 young-old (age range 55-74) daughters. Further, care-receiving mothers' perceptions of their daughters' caregiving motives, their own care-receiving outcomes, and the association between mothers' perceptions of daughters' caregiving motives and care-receiving outcomes were compared between 37 young-old (age range 55-74) and 121 old-old (age range 75 or older) mothers. The results indicated that middle-aged daughters reported lower obligatory motives than did young-old daughters while young-old mothers perceived higher discretionary motives than did old-old mothers. No significant differences were found between middle-aged and young-old daughters or between young-old and old-old mothers in their perceived costs and benefits of caregiving. No significant differences were found between middle-aged and young-old daughters or between young-old and old-old mothers, in the association of caregiving motives and outcomes. This study supported the possible shift in caregiving motives from obligation to discretion. Also, this study showed that caregiving leads to rewards as well