Caregiving among Older Black Same-Gender-Loving Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from Qualitative Research

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Citation

Poteat, Tonia; Hall, Porsha; Adams, Mary Anne; Gautam, Dipa S.; Ashenden, Robynn; & Horn, Jennifer (Online ahead of print). Caregiving among Older Black Same-Gender-Loving Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from Qualitative Research. Gerontologist. PMCID: PMC Journal - In Process

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Few data on caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic use an intersectional lens to attend to how multiple social categories, such as gender, age, race, and sexual orientation, shape caregiving experiences. This analysis sought to explore caregiving experiences of aging Black same-gender-loving women.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixteen focus groups were conducted with 4-8 participants each (N=102) from across the U.S. Audio-recorded discussions lasted for approximately 90 minutes and were transcribed verbatim. Two analysts coded transcripts for discussions related to caregiving and used content analysis to identify themes.
RESULTS: Participants engaged in caregiving for children, parents, family, friends, and neighbors. They provided physical, economical, instrumental, and/or secondary caregiving; and sometimes received care themselves. The pandemic heavily affected their stress level and mental health as well as their intimate partner relationships. Discussions mostly offered descriptions of increased caregiving difficulty caused by the pandemic. However, a few participants identified ways the pandemic made caregiving easier; changed caregiving without making it easier or harder; or thwarted their ability to provide care.
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Older Black same gender loving women described some pandemic caregiving experiences that diverged from the existing literature, demonstrating the importance of considering how gender, race, age, and sexual orientation affect caregiving experiences during a pandemic fraught with health inequities. Ensuring the multiply marginalized caregivers have access to the practical and emotional support they need is critical for advancing health equity and preparing for future pandemics.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad103

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

Online ahead of print

Journal Title

Gerontologist

Author(s)

Poteat, Tonia
Hall, Porsha
Adams, Mary Anne
Gautam, Dipa S.
Ashenden, Robynn
Horn, Jennifer

Article Type

Regular

PMCID

PMC Journal - In Process

Continent/Country

United States

State

Nonspecific

Race/Ethnicity

Black

Sex/Gender

Women

ORCiD

Poteat - 0000-0001-6541-3787