psychological implications for early responsibility influencing personality in old age?

Question

what are some implications for the effect of early responsibilty in childhood (caring for six siblings as a young child, 8 or 9 years of age) in old age (paper for masters class, an interview with an older person. my subject refused to talk about anything other than caring for other people, refused to talk about dreams, or hobbies, ambitions other than caring for her siblings, parents, and then husband and children, then grandchildren. She is 71 years old and is allowing her 25 year old granddaughter and two great-grandsons to stay with her and is supporting them financially while her granddaughter looks for a job (this has been over a year).

websites would be great, or at least something i can cite. Psychology and sociology concepts preferred.

Answer 1

I knew someone who needed to care for her younger brother and sister at such a young age, due to the death of their parents. Later, she was very overprotective of her children--and still later, she became overly anxious about her grandchildren.

Some people are just nurturerers by nature--my sister had to take care of us while our parents worked at about 9 years of age, now she is taking care of her own three children and planning to remarry and have more.

Answer 2

Damn it. Get rid of the verbal diarrhea and proof read your work. You have an excellent study here that could make a book. Yes one or two of the secrets of life sit in every old persons brain out there. They will soon die and most will refuse to tell what life is all about. Don't give up but expand you work. Look for a federal grant and visit the millions of oldies who are so bored with the end of life. How the hell did you think of these things anyway. Because of the size of this research you better use a team. Pick them well.