Loss of Resources in the Perception of Foster Parents in Late Adulthood

Overview

This study examined differences in perception of resource loss among older adults serving as foster parents to their grandchildren, grounded in Hobfoll's conservation of resources theory. The investigation compared subjective assessments of resource gains and losses between 80 late-adulthood foster parents and 80 age-matched controls without custodial kinship roles.

Methods and approach

The research employed the abbreviated Self-Assessment of Gains and Losses in Resources questionnaire in Polish adaptation, supplemented by a researcher-designed survey instrument. The sample consisted of 160 participants divided into two groups: 80 foster-caring seniors in late adulthood and 80 non-caregiving senior controls. Statistical analysis was conducted to identify differences in resource perception across categories.

Results

Foster-caring seniors reported significantly greater losses in available resources compared to the control group, with marked differences in hedonistic and familial resource categories. Effect sizes were substantial. The findings indicate that assumption of custodial kinship roles in late adulthood is associated with stress exposure and resource depletion relative to age-matched peers without such responsibilities.

Implications

The results suggest that foster-caregiving roles in later life constitute a demanding situation characterized by resource loss that may compromise psychological well-being and adaptive functioning during the aging process. The magnitude of observed effects indicates that resource depletion among kinship-caring seniors warrants consideration in gerontological and family stress research. Further investigation of protective mechanisms and intervention strategies for this population is warranted, particularly regarding hedonic well-being and familial relational dynamics in the context of intergenerational caregiving.