<p>The current study empirically tested
a model of sibling caregiving topic avoidance, including privacy rule criteria
as predictors of topic avoidance and both relationship satisfaction and
depression as outcomes of topic avoidance. Associations between topic avoidance
and its predictors and outcomes were compared for primary and non-primary
caregivers. Additionally, the study tested privacy expectations, including
information ownership and caregiving talk preference, as moderators of the
associations between topic avoidance and both relationship satisfaction and
depression. The current study is grounded in communication privacy management
theory, conceptualizing topic avoidance as a strategy for maintaining privacy
(CPM; Petronio, 2002). Findings validate CPM propositions related to privacy
rule development and privacy turbulence. Findings also further understanding of
informal caregiving, sibling communication, and topic avoidance.</p>
<p>Over 75% of all eldercare in the
United States is provided by unpaid, non-professionals (Family Caregiver
Alliance, n.d.). Providing unpaid care has been linked to diminished
well-being, including negative physical and mental health effects (Cooper,
Balamurali, & Livingston, 2007). However, some scholars argue that
caregiving is only detrimental in particular circumstances with some caregivers
experiencing more benefits than burdens (Roth, Fredman, & Haley, 2015). The
current study proposes that sibling communication is a key factor in
determining when caregiving is harmful. </p>
<p>Specifically, the current study
examines topic avoidance about parent well-being and sibling’s contributions to
parental care, including predictors of topic avoidance and the association of
topic avoidance with sibling relationship satisfaction and depression. The
current study includes a pilot study of 207 participants to develop CPM
measures of caregiving topic avoidance, benefit-risk analysis, and information
ownership as well as a measure of caregiving involvement (including personal
care, routine tasks, and emotional support). The resulting measures are
utilizing in a main study of 415 participants, testing models of middle-aged
siblings’ topic avoidance.</p>
<p>Findings contribute to understanding
of informal care, sibling communication, and CPM. Privacy rule criteria,
including context, motivation, and risk-benefit analysis, were associated with
topic avoidance. Surprisingly, gender and family culture were not strongly
associated with topic avoidance. Topic avoidance resulted in relationship
dissatisfaction and greater depression when topic avoidance did not align with
privacy expectations, resulting in privacy turbulence. Differences emerged for
primary caregivers compared with non-primary caregivers, including predictors
of topic avoidance and direct effects of caregiving involvement on relationship
satisfaction and depression. For primary caregivers, involvement in personal
care was associated with greater depression, and involvement in emotional
support was associated with less depression. Overall, findings further
understanding of privacy management, caregiving, and sibling communication and
provide interesting avenues for future research.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/8204951 |
| Date | 14 August 2019 |
| Creators | Helen M Lillie (6755585) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/Parental_Caregiving_and_Sibling_Topic_Avoidance_An_Application_of_Communication_Privacy_Management_Theory/8204951 |
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