The authors explored whether gender moderated the influence of other factors on solo spousal caregiving. The subsample (n = 452) from the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old study included elderly care recipients (CRs) receiving assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and their spouses. Logistic regression was used to model the likelihood of solo spousal IADL care. Gender moderation was tested by product terms between CRs’ gender and measures of partners’ health, potential helpers, and sociodemographic characteristics. As numbers of CRs’ IADLs and couples’ proximate daughters increased, wives less often received care solely from their husbands, but husbands’ receipt of care from their wives was unaffected. Age differences between spouses and CRs affected solo spousal caregiving to wives and husbands in opposite ways. Regardless of gender, CRs’ numbers of limitations in activities of daily living and spouses with limitations in IADLs or activities of daily living reduced the likelihood of solo spouse care. Identifying circumstances influencing solo spouse caregiving differently among couples with frail wives and husbands facilitates gender-sensitive services.
Adams, P.F., J.W. Lucas, and P.M. Barnes.2008. "Summary Health Statistics for the U. S. Population: National Health Interview Survey, 2006." DHHS Publication 2008-1564, Series 10, Number 236. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.
2.
Allen, S.M., F. Goldscheider, and D.A. Ciambrone.1999. "Gender Roles, Marital Intimacy, and Nomination of Spouse as Primary Caregiver." The Gerontologist39:150-58.
3.
Arber, S. and H. Cooper.1999. "Gender Differences in Health in Later Life: The New Paradox ." Social Science and Medicine3:79-92.
4.
Arber, S., K. Davidson, and J. Ginn.2003. "Changing Approaches to Gender and Later Life." Pp. 1-14 in Gender and Ageing: Changing Roles and Relationships , edited by S. Arber, K. Davidson, and J. Ginn.Philadelphia: Open University Press.
5.
Arber, S. and J. Ginn.1995. "Gender Differences in Informal Caregiving." Health and Social Care in the Community3:19-31.
6.
Arksey, H. and C. Glendinning.2007. "Choice in the Context of Informal CareGiving." Health and Social Care in the Community15:165-75.
7.
Burton, L.C., B. Zdaniuk, R. Schulz, S. Jackson, and C. Hirsch.2003. "Transitions in Spousal Caregivers." The Gerontologist43:230-41.
8.
Calasanti, T.2003. "Masculinities and Care Work in Old Age." Pp. 15-30 in Gender and Ageing: Changing Roles and Relationships, edited by S. Arber, K. Davidson , and J. Ginn.Philadelphia: Open University Press.
9.
Calasanti, T.2004. "Feminist Gerontology and Old Men." Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences59B:5-14.
10.
Calasanti, T. and E. Bowen.2006. "Spousal Caregiving and Crossing Gender Boundaries: Maintaining Gendered Identities." Journal of Aging Studies20:253-63.
11.
Calasanti, T. and N. King.2007. "Taking ‘Women’s Work’ ‘Like a Man’: Husbands’ Experiences of Care Work." The Gerontologist47:516-27.
12.
Ciambrone, D. and S.M. Allen.2002. "Husbands Caring for Wives with Cancer." Pp. 294-313 in Men as Caregivers: Theory, Research, and Service Implications, edited by B. J. Kramer and E. H. Thompson, Jr.New York: Springer.
13.
Davidson, K., S. Arber, and J. Ginn.2000. "Gendered Meanings of Care Work Within Late Life Marital Relationships." Canadian Journal on Aging19:536-53.
14.
Dilworth-Anderson, P., S.W. Williams, and T. Cooper.1999. "Family Caregiving to Elderly African Americans: Caregiver Types and Structures." Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences54B:S237-41.
15.
Feld, S., R.E. Dunkle, and T. Schroepfer.2004. "Race/Ethnicity and Marital Status in IADL Caregiver Networks." Research on Aging26:531-58.
16.
Feld, S., R.E. Dunkle, T. Schroepfer, and H.-W. Shen.2006. "Expansion of Elderly Couples’ IADL Caregiver Networks Beyond the Marital Dyad." International Journal of Aging and Human Development63:95-113.
17.
Fine, M. and C. Glendinning.2005. "Dependence, Independence or Inter-Dependence? Revisiting the Concepts of ‘Care’ and ‘Dependency’." Ageing & Society25:601-21.
18.
Herzog, A.R. and R.B. Wallace.1997. "Measures of Cognitive Functioning in the AHEAD Study ." Journal of Gerontology52B (Special Issue): 37-48.
Johnson, R.J. and F.D. Wolinsky.1993. "The Structure of Health Status Among Older Adults: Disease, Disability, Functional Limitation, and Perceived Health." Journal of Health and Social Behavior34:105-21.
21.
Katz, S.J., M. Kabeto, and K.M. Langa.2000. "Gender Disparities in the Receipt of Home Care for Elderly People With Disability in the United States." JAMA284:3022-27.
22.
Kaye, L.W.2002. "Service Utilization and Support Provision of Caregiving Men." Pp. 359-78 in Men as Caregivers: Theory, Research, and Service Implications, edited by B. J. Kramer and E. H. Thompson, Jr.New York: Springer.
23.
Kramer, B.J.2002. "Men Caregivers: An Overview." Pp. 3-19 in Men as Caregivers: Theory, Research, and Service Implications, edited by B. J. Kramer and E. H. Thompson, Jr.New York: Springer .
24.
Kirsi, T., A. Hervonen, and M. Jylhä.2000. "A Man’s Gotta Do What a Man’s Gotta Do: Husbands as Caregivers to Their Demented Wives." Journal of Aging Studies14:153-70.
25.
Litwak, E., D.J. Jessop, and H.J. Moulton.1994. "Optimal Use of Formal and Informal Systems Over the Life Course." Pp. 96-132 in Family Caregiving Across the Lifespan , edited by E. Kahana, D. E. Biegel, and M. L. Wykle.Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
26.
Messeri, P., M. Silverstein, and E. Litwak.1993. "Choosing Optimal Support Groups: A Review and Reformulation." Journal of Health and Social Behavior34:122-37.
27.
National Alliance for Caregiving.1997. "Family Caregiving: Findings From a National Survey." Final Report . Bethesda, MD: National Alliance for Caregiving.
28.
O’Connor, D.L.1995. "Caring for a Memory-Impaired Spouse-A Gender-Sensitive Perspective." Journal of Women and Aging7:24-42.
29.
Okazaki, S. and S. Sue.1995. "Methodological Issues in Assessment Research With Ethnic Minorities." Psychological Assessment7:367-75.
30.
Pinquart, M. and S. Sorensen.2003. "Differences Between Caregivers and Noncaregivers in Psychological Health and Physical Health: A Meta-Analysis." Psychology and Aging18:250-67.
31.
Pinquart, M. and S. Sorensen.2005. "Ethnic Differences in Stressors, Resources, and Psychological Outcomes of Family Caregiving: A Meta-Analysis." The Gerontologist45:90-106.
32.
Rose, H. and E. Bruce.1995. "Mutual Care but Differential Esteem: Caring Between Older Couples." Pp. 114-28 in Connecting Gender and Ageing: A Sociological Approach, edited by S. Arber and J. Ginn.Buckingham, UK: Open University Press.
33.
Russell, R.2001. "In Sickness and in Health: A Qualitative Study of Elderly Men Who Care for Wives With Dementia." Journal of Aging Studies15:351-67.
34.
Scanlan, J.M., P.P. Vitaliano, H. Ochs, M.V. Savage, and S. Borso.1998. "CD4 and CD8 Counts are Associated With Interactions of Gender and Psychosocial Stress." Psychosomatic Medicine60:644-53.
35.
Scharlach, A.E., N. Giunta, J.C. Chow, and A. Lehning.2008. "Racial and Ethnic Variations in Caregiver Service Use." Journal of Aging and Health20:326-46.
36.
Soldo, B.J., M.D. Hurd, W.L. Rodgers, and R.B. Wallace.1997. "Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old: An Overview of the AHEAD Study." Journals of Gerontology, Series B:Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences52B (Special Issue): 1-20.
37.
Soldo, B.J., D.A. Wolf, and E.M. Agree.1990. "Family, Households, and Care Arrangements of Frail Older Women: A Structural Analysis." Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences45:S238-49.
38.
Stoller, E.P.1992. "Gender Differences in the Experiences of Caregiving Spouses ." Pp. 49-64 in Gender, Families, and Elder Care, edited by J. Dwyer and R. T. Coward.Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
39.
Stoller, E.P.2002. "Theoretical Perspectives on Caregiving Men." Pp. 51-68 in Men as Caregivers: Theory, Research, and Service Implications, edited by B. J. Kramer and E. H. Thompson, Jr. New York: Springer.
40.
Stoller, E.P. and S.J. Cutler.1992. "The Impact of Gender on Configurations of Care Among Elderly Couples." Research on Aging14:313-30.
41.
Stoller, E. and C.S. Miklowski.2008. "Spouses Caring for Spouses: Untangling the Influences of Relationship and Gender." Pp. 115-31 in Caregiving Contexts: Cultural, Familial, and Societal Implications, edited by M. E. Szinovacz and A. Davey.New York: Springer.
42.
Sullivan, O.2004. "Changing Gender Practices Within the Household: A Theoretical Perspective." Gender & Society18:207-22.
43.
Tennstedt, S., J.B. McKinlay, and L.M. Sullivan.1989. "Informal Care for Frail Elders: The Role of Secondary Caregivers." The Gerontologist29:677-83.
44.
Thompson, E.H., Jr.2000. "Gendered Caregiving of Husbands and Sons." Pp. 333-44 in Intersections of Aging: Readings in Social Gerontology, edited by E. W. Markson and L. A. Hollis-Sawyer.Los Angeles: Roxbury.
45.
Thompson, E.H., Jr.2002. "What’s Unique About Men’s Caregiving?" Pp. 20-47 in Men as Caregivers: Theory, Research, and Service Implications, edited by B. J. Kramer and E. H. Thompson, Jr.New York: Springer.
46.
Thompson, L.1993. "Conceptualizing Gender in Marriage: The Case of Marital Care." Journal of Marriage and Family55:557-69.
47.
Uhlenberg, P. and M. Cheuk.2008. "Demographic Change and the Future of Informal Caregiving ." Pp. 9-33 in Caregiving Contexts: Cultural, Familial, and Societal Implications, edited by M. E. Szinovacz and A. Davey.New York: Springer.
48.
White-Means, S. and R.M. Rubin.2004. "Is There Equity in the Home Health Care Market? Understanding Racial Patterns in the Use of Formal Home Health Care." Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences59B:S220-29.
49.
Wister, A. and P.A. Dykstra.2000. "Formal Assistance Among Dutch Older Adults: An Examination of the Gendered Nature of Marital History." Canadian Journal of Aging19:508-35.
50.
Wolf, D.A., V. Freedman, and B.J. Soldo.1997. "The Division of Family Labor: Care for Elderly Parents." Journals of Gerontology, Series B:Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences52B (Special Issue): 102-109.
51.
Wolff, J.L. and J.D. Kasper.2006. "Caregivers of Frail Elders: Updating a National Profile ." The Gerontologist46:344-56.
