Forms and Meanings of Respect: Aging Mothers and Adult Daughters with Mental Illness

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the perspectives of aging mothers to understand the ways in which respect is experienced in relationships involving aging mothers and adult daughters with mental illness. Data came from audiotaped personal interviews with a purposive sample of 21 mothers (ages 52–90) of adult daughters with a serious mental illness. An interpretative phenomenological approach was used to analyze transcripts and identify the forms of respect described by aging mothers. Aging mothers and their daughters with mental illness experience multiple forms of respect; however, the meanings of respect vary by generation. These findings have practice, educational, and research implications for social workers serving aging families dealing with mental illness.