When Past Hurt Meets Present Care: How Family History Shapes Adult Caregivers’ Communal Coping With Siblings in Their Caregiving for Parents With Health Challenges

IF 4.9 1区文学 Q1 COMMUNICATION

Communication Research Pub Date : 2026-09-19 DOI:10.1177/00936502261484417

Abdullah S. Salehuddin, Andy J. Merolla, Tamara D. Afifi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This sequential, explanatory mixed-methods study explores how adult caregivers’ perceived family functioning and unresolved hurt toward siblings from childhood are associated with their present-day communal coping (CC) with their siblings and caregiving outcomes. Study 1 tested a hypothesized moderated mediation model using survey data ( N = 776). The results indicate greater childhood family functioning (consistent with hypotheses) and unresolved hurt (counter to hypotheses) were associated with more CC with siblings. CC, in turn, was associated with less flourishing and greater caregiver burden and sibling resentment. Considering the unexpected positive association between unresolved hurt and CC, Study 2 involved semi-structured interviews with adult caregivers ( N = 30) about their experiences enacting CC with siblings despite residual hurt. The findings suggest unresolved childhood hurt toward siblings often stem from challenging experiences, including neglect and abuse. In addition to impeding sibling CC, unresolved hurt can also complicate efforts toward CC (or render them dysfunctional). This study underscores how childhood experiences have an enduring effect on CC with siblings decades later, especially if past family issues are left unresolved.

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当过去的伤害遇到现在的照顾：家族史如何影响成年照顾者在照顾有健康挑战的父母时与兄弟姐妹的共同应对

这个顺序的、解释性的混合方法研究探讨了成人照顾者的感知家庭功能和童年时对兄弟姐妹的未解决的伤害如何与他们现在与兄弟姐妹的共同应对（CC）和照顾结果相关。研究1使用调查数据（N = 776）检验了一个假设的有调节的中介模型。结果表明，更大的童年家庭功能（与假设一致）和未解决的伤害（与假设相反）与更多的兄弟姐妹CC相关。而CC则与不发达、照顾者负担加重和兄弟姐妹怨恨有关。考虑到未解决的伤害与CC之间意想不到的正相关，研究2涉及对成年照顾者（N = 30）的半结构化访谈，询问他们在残余伤害的情况下对兄弟姐妹实施CC的经历。研究结果表明，童年时期对兄弟姐妹未解决的伤害往往源于具有挑战性的经历，包括忽视和虐待。除了阻碍兄弟姐妹的CC，未解决的伤害也会使CC的努力复杂化（或使他们功能失调）。这项研究强调了童年经历如何在几十年后对兄弟姐妹的CC产生持久的影响，特别是如果过去的家庭问题没有得到解决。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Communication Research COMMUNICATION-

CiteScore

17.10

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Empirical research in communication began in the 20th century, and there are more researchers pursuing answers to communication questions today than at any other time. The editorial goal of Communication Research is to offer a special opportunity for reflection and change in the new millennium. To qualify for publication, research should, first, be explicitly tied to some form of communication; second, be theoretically driven with results that inform theory; third, use the most rigorous empirical methods; and fourth, be directly linked to the most important problems and issues facing humankind. Critieria do not privilege any particular context; indeed, we believe that the key problems facing humankind occur in close relationships, groups, organiations, and cultures.