Gender differences in expressed satisfaction with care from adult children among older rural Yoruba
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21504/sajg.v6i1.104Abstract
This paper examines the role of gender in the types of assistance received and the satisfaction expressed with the assistance by 30 older males and 30 older females in two rural Yoruba communities of Nigeria. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews. Results indicate that both groups receive instrumental and non-instrumental support from adult children and that females are more frequently satisfied with the assistance. Both sexes report greater satisfaction with assistance received from daughters than from sons. Older females satisfaction with assistance from children was also associated with a positive evaluation of old age, whereas no such association was found for the males. The paper concludes, in accordance with earlier authors, the centrality of adult females in elder care and the important role of supportive adult children to older womens' feelings of generativity and ego integrity.References
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Caldwell, J.C. 1976. Fertility and household economy in Nigeria, Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 7: 193-253.
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Peil, M. 1992. Family help for the elderly in Africa. BOLD. 2(3): 2-4.
Peil, M. 1995. Family help for the elderly in Africa: a comparative assessment. Southern African Journal of Gerontology, 4(2): 26-32.
Rossi, A. 1986. Gender, personal traits and exchange of help between parents and children. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association. August.
Seelbach, W.C. 1977. Gender difference in expectations for filial responsibility. The Gerontologist, 17:421-425.
Smolic-Krkovic, N, 1977. Aging. Bureaucracy and the family. In: Shanas. E. & Sussman, M.R. (Eds) Family bureaucracy and the elderly. Durham, DC: Duke University Press.
Togonu-Bickersteth, F. 1987a. Chronological definition and expectations about old age among young adults in Nigeria. Journal of Comparative Family Studies. 19: 113-124.
Togonu-Bickersteth, F. 1987b. Infrastructural constraints on feelings of life satisfaction among rural elderly in Nigeria. Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives. 6: 237-246.
Togonu-Bickersteth. F. 1988. Perception of old age among Yoruba aged. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 19: 113-122.
Togonu-Bickersteth. F, 1989. Conflicts over caregiving: a discussion of filial obligations among adult Nigerian children. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 11: 35-48.
Togonu-Bickersteth, F. 1995. Gerontology in Nigeria: filling an academic gap. Ife Psychologia, 3: 106-117,
Togonu-Bickersteth, F,. Akinnawo.E.G. & Akinyele.S.A. 1996. Adaptation in old age in southwestern Nigeria. Unpublished, Ile-lfe. Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Psychology.
Togonu-Bickersteth. F. & Odebiyi, A.l. 1985. The influence of Yoruba beliefs about abnormality on the socialisation of deaf children. A research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 26: 639-652.
World Health Organisation. 1996. Women, aging and health. Geneva: WHO.
Allen. K.R. & Pickett. R, S. 1987. Forgotten streams in the family life course: utilization of qualitative retrospective interviews in the analysis of life long womens family careers. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 49: 517-526.
Apt, N. & Katila. S. 1994. Gender and intergenerational support: the case of Ghanaian women. Southern African Journal of Gerontology, 3(2): 23-29.
Caldwell, J.C. 1976. Fertility and household economy in Nigeria, Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 7: 193-253.
Cattell. M.G. 1990. Models of old age among the Sarnia of Kenya: family support of the elderly. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 5 :375-394.
Hess, B.B. & Waring, J.M. 1978. Parent and child in later life: rethinking the relationship. In: Lerner. R.M. & Spanier, G.B. (Eds) Child influences on marital and family interactions: a life-span perspective. New York: Academy Press,
Peil, M. 1991. Family support for the Nigerian elderly. Journal of Comparative Family Studies. 22( 1): 85-100.
Peil, M. 1992. Family help for the elderly in Africa. BOLD. 2(3): 2-4.
Peil, M. 1995. Family help for the elderly in Africa: a comparative assessment. Southern African Journal of Gerontology, 4(2): 26-32.
Rossi, A. 1986. Gender, personal traits and exchange of help between parents and children. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association. August.
Seelbach, W.C. 1977. Gender difference in expectations for filial responsibility. The Gerontologist, 17:421-425.
Smolic-Krkovic, N, 1977. Aging. Bureaucracy and the family. In: Shanas. E. & Sussman, M.R. (Eds) Family bureaucracy and the elderly. Durham, DC: Duke University Press.
Togonu-Bickersteth, F. 1987a. Chronological definition and expectations about old age among young adults in Nigeria. Journal of Comparative Family Studies. 19: 113-124.
Togonu-Bickersteth, F. 1987b. Infrastructural constraints on feelings of life satisfaction among rural elderly in Nigeria. Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives. 6: 237-246.
Togonu-Bickersteth. F. 1988. Perception of old age among Yoruba aged. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 19: 113-122.
Togonu-Bickersteth. F, 1989. Conflicts over caregiving: a discussion of filial obligations among adult Nigerian children. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 11: 35-48.
Togonu-Bickersteth, F. 1995. Gerontology in Nigeria: filling an academic gap. Ife Psychologia, 3: 106-117,
Togonu-Bickersteth, F,. Akinnawo.E.G. & Akinyele.S.A. 1996. Adaptation in old age in southwestern Nigeria. Unpublished, Ile-lfe. Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Psychology.
Togonu-Bickersteth. F. & Odebiyi, A.l. 1985. The influence of Yoruba beliefs about abnormality on the socialisation of deaf children. A research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 26: 639-652.
World Health Organisation. 1996. Women, aging and health. Geneva: WHO.
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1997-04-01
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