I’m Here, You’re There: In-Absentia Caregiver Stress & Transnational Support of Elderly Mothers by Adult Children

ABSTRACT

Providing support between generations in a transnational family context is understudied in the aging literature. Specifically, this study investigated the stress experiences and stressors experienced by adult children in the United States when providing transnational support to their elderly mothers in India. Information gathered from two focus groups was supplemented by an online survey of 131 adult children. Participants expressed sentiments of worry, sadness, guilt, and especially helplessness at their limited capacity to care for their mothers from a distance. Results indicate that transnational family aged care is an important dimension of aging that requires further research. In particular, “in absentia caregiver stress” is experienced remotely, and has implications for the immigrant adult’s health and well-being.

KEYWORDS:

• Transnational support
• aging parents
• stressors
• intergenerational relationships
• Asian Indians

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval (ID#45232) was received by Penn State University for this project.