Show-Me State Times

Caring for an aging parent is a significant challenge, particularly for only children who must face this responsibility alone. A recent study from the University of Missouri sheds light on this issue, finding that adult only children often encounter unique emotional and financial stresses.

Conducted by Hana Skoblow and Megan Gilligan from Mizzou's College of Education and Human Development, the study analyzed data from 1,773 adults caring for aging parents. Of these participants, 12% were only children. The findings indicate that while support from friends or extended family can benefit caregivers with siblings, it does not provide the same relief for only children.

"Families with multiple kids can lean on each other for help," said Skoblow, the study's lead author. "But only children don’t necessarily have that built-in support system."

Possible reasons for this disparity include the closer bonds only children often have with their parents and the difficulty they may face in sharing their caregiving challenges. "The lack of siblings means there's no one else who shares the family history or truly understands the emotional dynamics," Skoblow noted.

The study suggests that initiating conversations about caregiving earlier can help. "If they don’t talk about it ahead of time, those expectations might not line up," said Gilligan, an associate professor in human development and family science. The researchers emphasize the importance of being open about caregiving expectations to strengthen relationships.

Looking forward, Skoblow and Gilligan plan to explore parents' feelings about being cared for by their only child, aiming to understand both sides of the caregiving relationship.

The study, titled "Stressors and resources among adult child caregivers in the presence or absence of siblings," was published in The Gerontologist.