초록 열기/닫기 버튼
This research, using an exchange framework, was to examine how the relationship quality perceived by adult children was affected by the rewards and costs resulting from the caregiving of the aged mothers. The data for the study was collected from 167 adult children(daughters-in-law/daughters) taking care of their aged mothers who are living in Seoul, and 158 adult children(daughters-in-law/daughters) living in 4 major cities in the U. S. A. There were no differences in the level of activities for daily living of the aged mothers and the total amount of caregiving behaviors towards the aged mothers by the adult children between the two groups. Korean adult children perceived similar level of rewards from caregiving of their aged parents, however they reported higher costs than Korean Americans. The perceived relationship quality by Korean children was found to be lower than that of Korean Americans. For Korean children, rewards and costs resulting from supporting the aged mothers/mothers-in-law influenced the relationship quality, accounting for the 38% of the variance in the children's relationship quality scores. As for the Korean American children, rewards, costs, the relationship between parents and children, and caregiving behavior towards mothers/mothers-in-law influenced the relationship quality with the aged mothers and these variables account for 63% of the variance in the children's relationship quality scores. Based on these findings, utility of social exchange framework as a theoretical framework to understand the relationship between adult children and aged parents are discussed.
