Aging Mothers and Their Adult Daughters: A Case of Mixed Emotions

"As far as I am aware, there is no other scholarly book on adult mother/daughter relationships, particularly one that incorporates data from pairs of mothers and daughters...I believe that the contents provide useful material for instructors, researchers, and therapists alike." - Rosemary Blieszner, PhD Professor of Gerontology and Family Studies Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University The mother/daughter tie is one that persists well past childhood and it takes on unique characteristics as daughter enter midlife and mohers enter old age. Incorporating vivid descriptions by mothers and daughters about their relationships, this book addresses both the rewards and the costs that mothers and daughters incur in maintaining their relationships into old age. For psychologists, gerontologists, and sociologists, as well as academics and researchers in women's and family studies. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 One: Aging Mothers and Adult Daughters......Page 20 1 Complexities of the Mother/Daughter Tie......Page 22 2 The Mothers and Daughters in This Study......Page 33 Two: Positive Features of the Mother/Daughter Tie......Page 54 3 Theories About Mother/Daughter Ties......Page 56 4 The Pleasure of Her Company......Page 71 Three: Problems in the Mother/Daughter Tie......Page 94 5 The Developmental Schism......Page 96 6 The History of the Mother/Daughter Tie......Page 107 7 A Problematic Encounter......Page 122 8 Shared Perceptions of Problems......Page 150 Four: Mothers' and Daughters' Reactions to Problems......Page 166 9 Interpersonal Conflict and Communication......Page 168 10 Mothers' and Daughters' Responses to Tensions......Page 177 11 Once a Mother, Always a Mother......Page 197 References......Page 219 Appendix A: Methodological Decisions......Page 233 Appendix B: Interviews and Questionnaires......Page 236 B......Page 250 D......Page 251 I......Page 252 L......Page 253 P......Page 254 R......Page 255 S......Page 256 Y......Page 257 ìAs far as I am aware, there is no other scholarly book on adult mother/daughter relationships, particularly one that incorporates data from pairs of mothers and daughters...I believe that the contents provide useful material for instructors, researchers, and therapists alike.î - Rosemary Blieszner, PhD Professor of Gerontology and Family Studies Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University The mother/daughter tie is one that persists well past childhood and it takes on unique characteristics as daughter enter midlife and mohers enter old age. Incorporating vivid descriptions by mothers and daughters about their relationships, this book addresses both the rewards and the costs that mothers and daughters incur in maintaining their relationships into old age. For psychologists, gerontologists, and sociologists, as well as academics and researchers in womenís and family studies. Incorporating descriptions by mothers and daughters about their relationships, this book addresses both the rewards and the costs that mothers and daughters incur in maintaining their relationships into old age. It is useful for psychologists, gerontologists, and sociologists, as well as academics and researchers in women's and family studies. Over the past 10 years, I've interviewed hundreds of women about their relationships with their mothers and daughters.