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Journal of Applied Gerontology
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Role Ambiguity in Family Caregiving

Paula M. Usita

San Diego State University

Scott S. Hall

Ball State University

Jonathan C. Davis

Samford Univeristy

Role ambiguity occurs when specifications for expected roles are incomplete. The dyadic relationship of primary and secondary caregivers, the dyadic relationship of each caregiver and the care recipient, life stage of caregivers, changes in the caregiving conditions, and the work of caregiving are among the factors that may affect caregiver role ambiguity. A primary caregiver and a secondary caregiver to a family member who had experienced a heart attack were interviewed formally and informally about family caregiving over a period of 10 months. Thematic analysis revealed caregivers held inconsistent expectations about the secondary caregiver’s support to the primary caregiver, caregivers held inconsistent beliefs about the independence level of the care recipient, and role ambiguity was heightened during the times that the care recipient’s health condition changed and the primary caregiver’s other role responsibilities were more demanding. The utility of the role ambiguity concept in studies of family caregiving is discussed.

Key Words: roles • role ambiguity • family caregiving • caregivers

Journal of Applied Gerontology, Vol. 23, No. 1, 20-39 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0733464803253591
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