When Past Hurt Meets Present Care: How Family History Shapes Adult Caregivers’ Communal Coping With Siblings in Their Caregiving for Parents With Health Challenges

This sequential, explanatory mixed-methods study explores how adult caregivers’ perceived family functioning and unresolved hurt toward siblings from childhood are associated with their present-day communal coping (CC) with their siblings and caregiving outcomes. Study 1 tested a hypothesized moderated mediation model using survey data ( N = 776). The results indicate greater childhood family functioning (consistent with hypotheses) and unresolved hurt (counter to hypotheses) were associated with more CC with siblings. CC, in turn, was associated with less flourishing and greater caregiver burden and sibling resentment. Considering the unexpected positive association between unresolved hurt and CC, Study 2 involved semi-structured interviews with adult caregivers ( N = 30) about their experiences enacting CC with siblings despite residual hurt. The findings suggest unresolved childhood hurt toward siblings often stem from challenging experiences, including neglect and abuse. In addition to impeding sibling CC, unresolved hurt can also complicate efforts toward CC (or render them dysfunctional). This study underscores how childhood experiences have an enduring effect on CC with siblings decades later, especially if past family issues are left unresolved.