Date of Graduation

8-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Human Development, Family Sciences and Rural Sociology

Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Timothy Killian

Committee Member

Dr. Amanda Terrell

Second Committee Member

Dr. Weiyi Ma

Abstract

Older and middle-aged adults are increasingly in Living-Apart-Together (LAT) relationships characterized by committed romantic relationships without marriage and cohabitation. Because of assumptions that older adults will receive family caregiving as they grow older and need caregiving, it is not clear how people are likely to perceive obligations to provide caregiving assistance. As adults move into old age and incidence rates of Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementia (ADRD) increase, questions about the availability of family members to provide needed assistance are complicated by LAT relationships. The purpose of this study was to examine perceived obligations to provide assistance to older adults living with dementia, specifically focusing on LAT relationships. It is hypothesized that contextual micro-level factors will be related to perceived obligations to provide caregiving, including (1) sex of the person needing versus providing care, (2) marital status (married or LAT), (3) approval of adult children, (4) recent sexual intimacy, and (5) reasons for marital dissolution (divorce or widowhood). It was also hypothesized that cultural values would predict heterogeneity in perceived obligations to assist older persons experiencing symptoms of dementia, including (1) individualism, (2) familism, and (3) religiosity. In this study, the perceived obligations of older adult partners in LAT relationships were evaluated. The findings suggest that the marital status of the vignette couple significantly impacts the perceived obligation of the vignette partner to provide physical and financial assistance.

Keywords

Older Adults, Aging, Caregiving, Dementia, Living-Apart Together

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