Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1082096 | Journal of Aging Studies | 2007 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
This case study investigated the influence of a grandfather with Parkinson's disease and his death on the development of personal identity in his granddaughter. The case was complicated by the granddaughter's diagnosis at age 20 with a potentially terminal illness 3 months after his death. The granddaughter experienced symptoms similar to those of her grandfather. Analysis of a retrospective interview with the granddaughter revealed four themes: shared interests, coping skills and adaptation, enlightenment, and influence. These themes were examined within the context of Erik H. Erikson's theory of identity development as a conceptual framework for understanding the influence of the grandfather–granddaughter relationship.
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Authors
Debra M. Sellers, Maggie Milton,