Female Incest Survivors:

Abstract

This exploratory study of adult female incest survivors examined their attitudes and practices regarding caregiving for their aging parents. In-depth interviews with 14 women revealed considerable conflict between internalized societal expectations about eldercare and the recovery process from childhood incest. The analysis identified five "caregiving avoidance" strategies the women used to balance the opposing needs of their parents and their own recovery process: Determined Avoidance; Remote Caregiving; Restrained Support; No Touch Caregiving; and Disengaged Caregiving. The data suggest that viewing the family system from a historical perspective allows professionals to better understand daughters' reluctance to provide eldercare.