Caring for an aging parent stands among the most poignant yet demanding experiences many adults face, particularly in the context of evolving family dynamics. As demographic trends in the United States reveal a significant rise in single-child families—doubling from around 10% to nearly 20% over recent decades—the implications for eldercare structures are profound and multifaceted. The responsibility for caregiving routinely imposes not only physical demands but also deep-seated emotional and financial burdens, challenges that are amplified when there are no siblings to share the load. Recent research by scholars at the University of Missouri sheds illuminating light on how these challenges manifest differently for adult only children compared to those with siblings, providing a crucial data-driven perspective to a societal issue growing in urgency.
In their investigative study, Hana Skoblow and Megan Gilligan, affiliated with the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Missouri, utilized a nationally representative dataset comprising 1,773 adult child caregivers. Of these individuals, 12% identified as only children, offering a specific lens through which to examine the unique stressors and resource access disparities shaped by sibling presence or absence. The researchers meticulously analyzed indicators of caregiving stress, illuminating patterns of strain that disproportionately affect only children. This nuanced approach draws attention to how familial structure modulates the interplay between psychological distress and resource availability.
Their analysis reveals that caregiving stress diverges notably between those who have siblings and those who do not. Adult only children exhibited markedly higher levels of both emotional and financial strain. Psychological distress manifests more acutely in the absence of sibling support networks, an outcome compounded by financial pressures inherent in managing a parent’s care single-handedly. Moreover, although support from friends and extended family members often mitigates mental health challenges for caregivers with siblings, this form of social support was found to be less effective for only children. This finding challenges the assumption that broader social networks can fully compensate for the absence of immediate family collaborators in caregiving duties.
Skoblow, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral fellow, elucidates that families with multiple children naturally distribute caregiving burdens, enabling siblings to provide mutual aid and emotional solidarity. Only children, conversely, lack this embedded collaboration, rendering their caregiving role isolating and consequently more stressful. Even when external support structures are activated, these do not equate to the comfort and relief derived from sibling cooperation. The researchers posit that this structural deficiency cannot simply be offset by extended networks, indicating a unique vulnerability faced by only children in eldercare scenarios.
The mechanisms underlying these observed differences warrant further exploration. The investigators propose that only children often develop especially close and interdependent attachments to their parents, forming relationships where the parent serves as an essential source of emotional support. As the caregiving pendulum shifts and the parent becomes increasingly dependent, only children experience the loss of an emotional safety net—a phenomenon that exacerbates caregiver distress. Additionally, the absence of siblings impedes the sharing and processing of caregiving challenges, as there is no family peer to confide in about the emotional and logistical complexities involved.
Furthermore, the familial history and shared emotional narratives that siblings draw upon to navigate caregiving roles are uniquely absent for only children. This absence intensifies feelings of isolation and may contribute to the psychological toll observed in their caregiving journey. Skoblow emphasizes that this lack of shared familial experience and understanding is not easily supplanted by friendships or extended relations, underscoring how tightly interwoven sibling dynamics are with the caregiving experience.
While sibling rivalry and perceived imbalances in caregiving duties are common in multi-child families, this research did not delve into intra-sibling tensions but focused explicitly on contrasting only children with those who have siblings. This scope is strategically limited but essential for isolating the impact of having—or not having—siblings on the caregiving burden. By honing in on this aspect, the study lays groundwork for future investigations into the broader family dynamics and their psychological and practical implications.
An important takeaway emphasized by both Skoblow and Gilligan pertains to the timing and nature of caregiving conversations within families. Early dialogues regarding expectations, capabilities, and caregiving wishes can mitigate misalignments and reduce the exacerbation of stress that arises when assumptions diverge. These preparative discussions serve not only to clarify roles but also to fortify relationships, offering a proactive approach to eldercare planning that benefits both parents and adult children.
Looking ahead, the researchers intend to pivot the focus toward the caregiving recipients themselves, aiming to understand parental perspectives when their primary caregiver is an only child. This dimension could reveal insights into feelings of guilt, fears of being burdensome, and tendencies to withhold requests for assistance. Understanding the bidirectional emotional and psychological landscape of caregiving relationships—across diverse family configurations—stands to enrich both academic literature and practical caregiving frameworks.
Their future research trajectory seeks to delineate how different family structures influence caregiving responsibilities, emotional exchanges, and perceived supports, potentially informing more nuanced policies and interventions tailored to the evolving demographic realities. The health and social service sectors could greatly benefit from this knowledge, adapting resources and outreach efforts better to target and support the unique needs of adult only children caregivers.
The publication of this study, titled “Stressors and Resources Among Adult Child Caregivers in the Presence or Absence of Siblings,” in The Gerontologist, comes at a pivotal moment as societies wrestle with the complexities of aging populations and shifting family structures. By integrating psychological, financial, and social analyses, this research contributes a vital data-driven narrative to conversations about eldercare, reinforcing the urgency of addressing caregiving disparities inherent in contemporary familial dynamics.
In summary, this work underscores a growing imperative: The demographic swell of only-child caregivers demands targeted attention, support mechanisms, and policy interventions recognizing the distinctive challenges they face. As the ageing parent cohort expands, ensuring that caregiving systems evolve with a comprehensive understanding of family structure implications will be critical to sustaining the wellbeing of both caregivers and their loved ones.
Subject of Research: Caregiving stress and resources among adult child caregivers, focusing on differences between only children and those with siblings.
Article Title: Stressors and Resources Among Adult Child Caregivers in the Presence or Absence of Siblings
News Publication Date: 31-Jan-2025
Web References:
https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaf006
References:
Skoblow, H., & Gilligan, M. (2025). Stressors and resources among adult child caregivers in the presence or absence of siblings. The Gerontologist. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaf006
Keywords:
Caregivers, Adult children, Only children, Siblings, Emotional strain, Financial strain, Family dynamics, Aging populations, Mental health, Social support, Caregiving burden, Gerontology
