Support to Aging Parents: Implications for Middle-aged Children’s Diurnal Cortisol and Daily Mood
Year: 2017
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: This study examines whether giving support to parents has implications for middle-aged children’s diurnal cortisol and daily mood. During 4 consecutive days, 148 middle-aged adults (mean age = 55) reported support they gave to their parents and provided saliva 4 times a day. Multilevel models estimated within-person differences in positive and negative affect (PA/NA), cortisol awakening response (CAR) and area under the curve (AUC-G) as a function of giving same-day and previous-day support. We examined whether these associations are exacerbated when a parent has health problems or activities of daily living (ADL) needs. When participants gave support to parents with ADL needs, they had higher next-day AUC-G, higher same-day PA and lower next-day NA. Giving support to parents with health problems was associated with higher next-day NA. A biopsychosocial approach shows that giving support to aging parents is an ambiguous experience with differential implications for biological stress and daily mood.
Source: Innovation in Aging
Authors: L. Bangerter, Y. Liu, S. Zarit, K. Birditt, K.L. Fingerman
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,977
OpenAlex ID: W2733371588