We are daughters, we are not lovable slaves”: challenges experienced by adult daughters caring for a parent with dementia – a qualitative study
- Författare
- Oscar Blomberg, Abla Sami, Paul Farrand, Renita Sörensdotter, Frida Svedin, Louise von Essen, Anna Cristina Åberg, Joanne Woodford
- Titel
- We are daughters, we are not lovable slaves”: challenges experienced by adult daughters caring for a parent with dementia – a qualitative study
- Utgivningsår
- 2025
- Tidskrift
- Aging & Mental Health
- Sidor
- 1-12
- Url
- https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2025.2612173
- Nyckelord
- Adult–daughter, caregiver; dementia, challenges, depression, qualitativ
- Sammanfattning
Objectives: Experiences of daughter caregivers are underrepresented in the broader caregivingliterature, with studies commonly focusing on spousal caregivers. We aimed to explorechallenges experienced by daughter caregivers, reporting varying severity of depressivesymptoms, of a parent with dementia in Sweden. This study is situated within a wider researchprogram to inform the development of psychological support for this underserved caregivergroup.Method: Following a semi-structured topic guide, we interviewed 23 daughter caregivers. Weused reflexive thematic analysis to analyze the interviews. We did not compare and contrastchallenges expressed by daughter caregivers experiencing different levels of depressionseverity; however, symptom severity is reported to contextualize findings.Results: We generated one overarching theme, Changing Roles and Expectations Over Time,and four themes: Caregiver Role – Expectations; Puzzle of Life – Balancing Roles; Relationship withthe Parent – Reciprocity, and Anticipating the Inevitable – Loss and Grief. Daughter caregiversreported challenges balancing multiple roles, difficulties prioritizing their own well-being,relationship difficulties with their parent, and anticipatory grief, with challenges changing overthe dementia trajectory.Conclusion: Future research should explore support needs across specific phases of thedementia trajectory to inform the development of tailored psychological support