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Caught in the Triangle: The Influence of Home, Work and Elder Location on Work-Family Balance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Alun E. Joseph  and
Bonnie C. Hallman
Alun E. Joseph
Affiliation:
University of Guelph
Bonnie C. Hallman
Affiliation:
University of Guelph
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Abstract

In this paper we investigate the geographical context in which employed caregivers provide assistance to their elderly relatives. Specifically, we examine the impact of the spatial arrangement of the employed caregiver's home, their workplace and the care recipient's home (the “locational triangle” alluded to in our title) on work-family balance. Analysis of data drawn from a national study of Work and Family conducted by the Canadian Aging Research Network (CARNET) indicates that the parameters of the locational triangle have discernable impacts on levels of perceived stress and interference and on the incidence of certain job effects and coping behaviours. The impacts of longer journey to work and increased distance from elderly relative(s) on stress and interference levels are seen to be bound up with the nature of family responsibilities. Location-based coping behaviours (considered or implemented in the six months leading up to the survey) are reported by 18 per cent of our sample of 595 employed caregivers, but are virtually confined to the home-elder axis of the location triangle. On the basis of our results, we advocate greater attention to the spatial context of work-family balance.

Résumé

Cet article étudie le contexte géographique dans lequel évoluent les soignants ayant un emploi et s'occupant d'un membre âgé de leur famille. Plus particulièrement, on y examine l'effet de la disposition spatiale du domicile du soignant, de son lieu de travail et du domicile du soigné (d'où «le triangle géographique» auquel le titre fait allusion) sur l'équilibre travail-famille. Une analyse de données tirées d'une recherche nationale sur le travail et la famille effectuée par le Réseau canadien de recherche sur le vieillissement (CARNET) indique que les paramètres du triangle géographique ont un impact certain sur le niveau de stress et d'entrave ressentis ainsi que sur le travail et le comportement d'adaptation. L'effet de déplacements plus longs au travail et de distances accrues depuis le domicile du parent âgé sur les niveaux de stress et d'entrave s'avère relié à la nature des responsabilités familiales. On a relevé des comportements d'adaptation géographique (envisagés ou mis en place dans les six mois de l'etude) chez 18 pour cent de l'échantillonnage de 595 soignants possédant un emploi; ils sont essentiellement centrés sur le point du triangle du parent aîné. Nos résultats nous amènent à prôner une attention spéciale au contexte spatial de l'équilibre famille-travail.

Keywords

Work and FamilyEldercareJob EffectsLocation-based CopingTravail et familleservices aux aînésincidence sur le travailcomportement d'adaptation géographique
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , Automne/Fall 1996 , pp. 393 - 412
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1996

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