King, Haylee (2020) Family Ties: Values Associated with Caring for an Immediate Family Member. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
In an aging population, it is often family members who provide informal care to the aging or chronically ill. Caregiving has been associated with numerous burdens and stressors, as well as negative physical and psychological outcomes. However, research also shows that caring can be positive, with experiences in caregiving being subjective and underpinned by core values. Whilst quantitative caregiver research is plentiful, an emerging body of qualitative research is beginning to explore the experience and values associated with caregiving from the perspective of caregivers. Through thematic analysis (TA), this qualitative study aimed to gain a deep understanding of the values associated with caring for an elderly or chronically ill family member. Three themes emerged from the data: What I Must Do – values associated with obligation and responsibility; What I Choose to Do – values associated with letting go of control and commitment; and What I Know to Do – values that relate to modelled behaviour and love. Findings within the theme What I Choose to Do presented two novel concepts; that caregivers associated particular values with their caregiving experience depending on both the level of control they had and were willing to let go of in their role, and the witnessing of the modelled caring behaviour. Extending previous findings, the study revealed that the caregiving experience is nuanced and multifaceted and highlights the importance of understanding the rich perspective of caregivers themselves. The findings compliment the evolving interest in caregiving interventions with a positive outcome focus and provide valuable opportunity to reframe public discourse about the caregiving role and experience.
|
Statistics for this ePrint Item |
| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Bob Knight |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Aug 2025 05:15 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Aug 2025 05:15 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | family caregiver; dementia; values; spouse; qualitative; thematic analysis |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52471 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Archive Repository Staff Only |
