Connection, Caretaking, and Conflict: The Recalled, Lived Experience of Adultdaughters of Bipolar

274 Pages·2016·1.42 MB·English

Loyola University Chicago
Loyola eCommons
Dissertations Theses and Dissertations
2009
Connection, Caretaking, and Confict: The Recalled, Lived
Experience of Adultdaughters of Bipolar Mothers
Louise Ribeiro Presley
Loyola University Chicago
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Presley, Louise Ribeiro, "Connection, Caretaking, and Confict: The Recalled, Lived Experience of
Adultdaughters of Bipolar Mothers" (2009). Dissertations. 260.
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LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO

CONNECTION, CARETAKING, AND CONFLICT:

THE RECALLED LIVED EXPERIENCE OF ADULT DAUGHTERS

OF

BIPOLAR MOTHERS

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO

THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

BY

LOUISE RIBEIRO PRESLEY

CHICAGO, IL

AUGUST 2009
Copyright by Louise R. Presley, 2009
All rights reserved.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I applied to Loyola’s School of Social Work to learn how to research, write,
and share my ideas by publishing them. The faculty of the School has allowed me to
fulfill my intentions and still encourages me. There are too many to thank
individually, but Dr. Marcia Spira has always helped me with issues about mothers
and daughters. She became member of my committee. Dr James Marley has guided
my early efforts at research and also became a committee member. Dr. Randolph
Lucente saw me into the School as the Director of the Doctoral Program and saw me
out as my committee chairperson. When the size of my project overwhelmed me he
pointed the way. He has been positive, creative, and encouraging from the very
beginning of my student career at Loyola University Chicago.
I thank Dr. David Moxley, at Wayne State University in Detroit, who set me
on the exciting road of learning to do qualitative research, and Dr Anna Santiago,
who led me through the Behavioral Investigation Committee process for my pilot
study. Dr. Jerrold Brandell, also from Wayne State, suggested a doctorate from
Loyola, convinced me I was not too old to do it, and encouraged me to talk to Dr.
Lucente.
Thank you also to Margaret Arnd-Caddigan, Ph.D. and Pamela DeWeese,
MSW who tolerated my inexperience while testing the reliability of my coding.
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I owe an enormous debt of gratitude for the contribution of an anonymous
dear friend who inspired my topic. She was my first reader and a kind critic. She, her
family, and other close friends, Miriam Berenstein, Jo-Ann Terry, and Frank Steiner,
remained caring and supportive through long years of my reduced availability.
Friends at Eastwood Clinics and Counseling Associates covered for me when I was in
Chicago, supported my efforts, and shared their love and knowledge. Angela
Fadragas and Margaret Arnd-Caddigan have shared with me the ups and downs of
being a student, and Margaret went before me into an academic life.
My participants persisted through multiple, then long interviews. I hope they
see parts of this dissertation in print some day soon.
My daughter Laurie Kerlin gave me a real home when I was in Chicago
before I moved here; and has given endless support, excellent commentary and advice
over some very difficult years. My husband Jim has gone alone to so many places
while I struggled at my computer. He has shopped, cooked, listened, and questioned,
made me laugh, helped me with PDF, and ignored what neither of us had time to do.
The unfailing love of my daughter and my husband sustains me as I move into a new
career.
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For my family, Laurie Kerlin and James Presley.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i

LIST OF TABLES viii

ABSTRACT xi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
Topic 1
Purpose 4
Rationale for this Paper in the Light of the Social Work Knowledge Base 6
Pilot Study 7
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 9
Demographics/Epidemiology 9
Psychodynamic Views of Families with a Bipolar Parent 11
Family Systems Views of Families with Bipolar Parents 16
Research on Problems of Children in Bipolar Families 23
A Relational view of Development 28
Resilience 37
Memory: Recall of Childhood Stressors (Not exclusively trauma) 42
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH PLAN 49
Potential Significance 49
Rationale for a Qualitative Method 49
Strategy 52
Variables and Implications of Key Definitions for Data Collection 56
Problem Formulation 60
Research Design 60
Site or Population Selection 70
Trustworthines 82
Data Analysis 88
Limitations 89
CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS 90
Childhood before First Grade 90
The Grade School Years 92
The High School Years 97
The Late Teens and Twenties 101
Recalled Recent Events 110
Meaning of Maternal Relationship 121
Anything Else about the Meaning of your Relationship with your Mother? 126
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CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 131
Introduction 131
Role reversals 131
Conflict 139
Care and Conflict in Recent Events 144
Meaning of Maternal Relationship 156
Is There Anything Else you want to Say about the Meaning of your Relationship
with Your Mother? 182
Conclusion 18
APPENDIX A: APPROVAL DOCUMENTS & LETTERS OF SUPPORT IN DATE
ORDER 193

APPENDIX B: MEMO TO THERAPISTS 199
APPENDIX C: LETTER TO HOSPITAL SOCIAL WORKERS & DISCHARGE
PLANERS 202

APPENDIX D: NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT 205
APPENDIX E: PARTICIPANT BROCHURE 207
APPENDIX F: TELEPHONE SCREENING TOOL 210
APPENDIX G: LETTER TO VOLUNTEERS NOT SELECTED FOR
PARTICIPATION 213

APPENDIX H: RESEARCHER’S CLINICAL QUALIFICATIONS 215
APPENDIX I: BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH INFORMED CONSENT 222
APPENDIX J: LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO & ST JOHN HOSPITAL AND
MEDICAL CENTER BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH INFORMED CONSENT 229

APPENDIX K: PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET AND QUESTIONAIRE 236
APPENDIX L: INTERVIEW GUIDE 240
REFERENCES 253
VITA 261
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LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1. Demographics 80
2. Living Situations before First Grade 91
3. Recalled Events from Grade School Years 93
4. Negative Feelings in the Grade School Years 95
5. Positive feelings in the Grade School Years 96
6. Recalled events in the High School Years 97
7. Helpers during High School Years 98
8. Meaning in the High School Years-References 100
9. Meaning in High Schol Years-Interpretations 10
10. Significant Life Changes 101
11. Role Reversals 102
12. Change in Mother’s Behavior 103
13. Relationship Connections and Disconnections 103
14. Projections and Internalizations 105
15. Emotional and Financial Support between Mother and Daughter 106
16. Maternal Betrayals 107
17. Reported Chemical Abuse and Chemical Dependency 107
18. Helpers in Late Teens and Twenties 108
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19. Meanings in Daughter’s Relationship with Mother 109
20. Mother’s Negative Behavior 111
21. Mother’s Positive Behavior 112
22. Quality of Relationship 113
23. Daughters’ Feelings 114
24. Recalled Recent Events with Mother that Involved Partners 115
25. Recalled Recent Events with Mother that Involved Children 116
26. Recalled Recent Events with Mother that Involved Family Members: Positive
Events 17

27. Recalled Recent Events with Mother that Involved Family Members: Negative
Events 19

28. Recalled Recent Events with Mother that Involved Work or Career 120

29. Meaning of Maternal Relationship to Identity 121
30. Meaning of Maternal Relationship to Partner Relationship 122
31. Meaning of Maternal Relationship to Parental Relationship 123
32. Daughter’s Understanding of how Extended Family Sees Her 123
33. Daughter’s View of Extended Family 124
34. The Meaning of the Maternal Relationship to Work or Career 125
35. Love and Compassion 126
36. Closeness and Distance 126
37. Conflict and Reconciliation 127
38. Anger and Acceptance 127
39. Control Issues 128
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