Adaptive, growth-oriented, and positive perceptions of mother-daughter elder caregiving relationships: a path-analytic investigation of predictors.

One hundred twenty-two pairs (n = 244) of filial caregivers (daughters) and care recipients (mothers) were interviewed separately, to investigate the factors underlying positive, growth-oriented caregiving relationships. The outcome variable examined was the type of caregiving pair (positive, negative, mixed, and neutral), as determined by "blind" raters. Based on existing research, factors examined as being significant predictors of this outcome variable were perceived roles (role changes, role relations) and individual-difference characteristics (personality dimensions, fluid intellectual ability). The results of the path model tested support the importance of individual-difference factors in understanding positive mother-daughter elder caregiving relationships.