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Caring Sons: Exploring Men's Involvement in Filial Care*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Lori D. Campbell  and
Anne Martin-Matthews
Lori D. Campbell
Affiliation:
McMaster University
Anne Martin-Matthews
Affiliation:
The University of British Columbia
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Abstract

This paper investigates socio-demographic, family structure and other factors that predict men's filial care involvement. The concepts guiding this investigation are related to family obligations or motivations to provide care — commitment to care, legitimate excuses, and caring by default. Data for this research come the Work and Eldercare Research Group of CARNET: The Canadian Aging Research Network. This work is based on a sample of 772 men who provide assistance to older parents or parents-in-law. Overall, findings demonstrate the value of the conceptual framework for explaining variations in men's care. For example, distance constraints and the commitment of young children, appear to be legitimate reasons for less care involvement. Further, living nearby and being without siblings may “default” men into being more involved in care. This research recognizes men's filial care as a more complex issue than a ‘gender difference’ focus on caregiving has allowed.

Résumé

Cette étude examine la structure familiale et socio-démographique et d'autres facteurs permettant de prédire l'engagement des hommes dans les soins à leurs parents. Les concepts qui ont guidé l'étude sont reliégitimes, soins forcés. Les données de la recherche sont tirées des travaux d'un groupe de recherche sur les soins aux aîné(e)s (Work and Eldercare Research Group) du Réseau canadien de la recherche sur le vieillissement (CARNET). Les travaux reposent sur un échantillon de 772 hommes qui fournissent de l'aide à leurs parents ou leurs beaux-parents âgés. Dans l'ensemble, les résultats démontrent la valeur du cadre conceptuel de l'explication des variables dans les soins accordés par les hommes. Ainsi, les contraintes de distance et les obligations envers de jeunes enfants semblent des raisons légitimes pour réduire son engagement. De plus, le fait d'habiter près et d'être fils unique peut «obliger» les hommes à s'engager dans les soins. Cette recherche fait ressortir la plus grande complexité de la question des soins filiaux accordés par les hommes par rapport à l'examen de la question dans une perspective de «différence entre les sexes».

Keywords

Filial CaregivingMen's CaregivingSoins filiauxsoins fournis par les hommes
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , Spring/Printemps 2000 , pp. 57 - 79
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2000

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