Asking Eric: Must I forgive mom’s physical abuse as a child just because dementia is getting worse? – Syracuse.com

 

Case Study Analysis: Interpersonal Conflict and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction to the Case

A case has been presented involving an adult daughter and her mother, who has dementia. The report details a history of childhood physical abuse perpetrated by the mother. A recent incident, where the mother physically violated the daughter’s personal space by pulling a hair from her head, has served as a catalyst for re-evaluating the relationship. This is compounded by the daughter’s vulnerability as a cancer survivor regrowing her hair post-chemotherapy. The daughter is contemplating ceasing all in-person contact with her mother, who is under the supervision of a caregiver.

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Mental and Emotional Well-being

The situation directly relates to the targets of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• Psychological Health: The daughter’s lifelong trauma from abuse and the distress from the recent incident highlight the critical importance of Target 3.4, which seeks to promote mental health and well-being. The recommendation to seek therapy is a direct application of this goal.
• Prioritizing Safety: The daughter’s decision to protect her emotional and physical well-being by setting boundaries is a fundamental aspect of maintaining good health.
• Vulnerable Populations: The case involves two vulnerable individuals: the mother with dementia and the daughter recovering from a major illness. SDG 3 advocates for comprehensive health and well-being strategies that address the specific needs of such groups.

Care for the Elderly

The mother’s dementia places her in a category of individuals requiring specialized care, a key concern for achieving universal health coverage under SDG 3. The presence of a professional caregiver is a positive measure, yet the case demonstrates that professional care must be integrated with strategies that protect the well-being of all family members involved.

Implications for SDG 5 and SDG 16: Violence, Safety, and Justice

Addressing Violence and Protecting Physical Integrity

The historical and present-day abuse described in the report contravenes the principles of several Sustainable Development Goals focused on peace and safety.

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality: The abuse suffered by the daughter is a form of violence against women, which Target 5.2 aims to eliminate in all its forms, including within the private sphere of the family.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The childhood abuse is a direct violation of Target 16.2, which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children.
3. Breach of Physical Integrity: The recent act of aggression, while seemingly minor to an outsider, represents a significant breach of physical integrity and safety, reinforcing the cycle of violence that SDG 16 seeks to dismantle.

Establishing Boundaries as a Protective Measure

The proposed solution of establishing firm boundaries, such as transitioning to remote-only contact, is a practical strategy for achieving personal peace and safety.

• This action aligns with the broader goals of SDG 16 by creating a non-violent and safe environment for the individual.
• It represents a form of personal justice, empowering the victim to protect herself from further harm.
• Involving the mother’s caregiver in this boundary-setting process ensures that the mother’s needs are still met, reflecting a balanced approach to a complex health and safety issue.

Report Conclusion and Recommendations

Key Takeaways in the Context of SDGs

This case study provides a micro-level example of the challenges addressed by the Sustainable Development Goals. The intersection of health, violence, and elder care illustrates the interconnectedness of these global objectives.

• The protection of individual mental and physical health (SDG 3) must be prioritized, allowing individuals to safeguard themselves from harm, even within family structures.
• Efforts to end violence against women and children (SDG 5 and SDG 16) include empowering survivors to set boundaries that prevent further abuse.
• Comprehensive care systems for the elderly must also incorporate safeguards for the well-being of family members and caregivers.
• The case underscores the vital role of support systems, including professional healthcare and mental health services, in fostering safe and healthy communities and achieving the SDGs.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses issues of past and present abuse, mental health, and well-being, which directly connect to several Sustainable Development Goals. The primary SDGs identified are:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This goal is central to the article, which focuses on the daughter’s emotional and physical safety, her recovery from chemotherapy, her mother’s dementia, and the recommendation to seek therapy to process trauma.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: This goal is relevant as it includes targets to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The article details physical violence inflicted by a mother on her daughter.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This goal is addressed through its focus on ending abuse and all forms of violence against children. The daughter’s testimony of childhood abuse is a direct example of the issues this SDG aims to resolve.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.”
  • Explanation: The daughter mentions she “lost it all to chemotherapy,” indicating she is a survivor of a non-communicable disease (cancer). The entire premise of the advice columnist’s response is to encourage the daughter to “prioritize keeping yourself emotionally and physically safe” and to “talk to a therapist, counselor or trusted friend about what you experienced,” which directly promotes mental health and well-being. The mother’s dementia is also a non-communicable disease impacting well-being.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres…”
  • Explanation: The article describes violence against a girl (and now woman) within the private sphere of her family. The daughter recounts historical abuse (“My mother never missed an opportunity to hit or slap me as a child”) and a recent act of physical violation (“she looked at me and said, ‘Oh look, a stray hair,’ and pulled it out of my head!”). This constitutes a form of domestic violence that this target aims to eliminate.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.”
  • Explanation: The daughter’s description of her childhood provides a clear example of the violence this target addresses. The statement, “My mother never missed an opportunity to hit or slap me as a child and once even broke a wooden fanny wacker over my head,” is a direct account of child abuse and violence by a caregiver.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 3 Targets

• Implied Indicator 3.4.1 (Mortality rate attributed to… cancer…): The daughter’s mention of undergoing chemotherapy implies a diagnosis of cancer, a major non-communicable disease that this indicator tracks. Her survival is a positive outcome related to treatment access.
• Implied Indicator for Mental Health (part of Target 3.4): The advice to “talk to a therapist, counselor or trusted friend” and to set boundaries to protect her “emotional and physically safe” state implies the need for mental health support services. The daughter’s feeling that she “can’t deal with anymore” is a qualitative measure of her declining mental well-being due to the ongoing situation.

Indicators for SDG 5 Targets

• Implied Indicator 5.2.1 (Proportion of… women and girls… subjected to physical… violence): The article provides a qualitative account of physical violence. The daughter’s statements, “hit or slap me,” “broke a wooden fanny wacker over my head,” and “pulled it out of my head,” serve as narrative evidence of the physical violence this indicator is designed to measure. Her feeling that her “physical integrity” was overstepped is a direct testimony.

Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

• Implied Indicator 16.2.1 (Proportion of children… who experienced any physical punishment… by caregivers): The daughter’s historical account of being hit and slapped as a child is a direct, albeit anecdotal, representation of the phenomenon measured by this indicator. The phrase “My mother never missed an opportunity to hit or slap me as a child” describes the experience of physical punishment by a caregiver.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs	Targets	Indicators (Mentioned or Implied in the Article)
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being and reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases.	The daughter’s experience with chemotherapy for cancer relates to non-communicable disease treatment. The advice to seek a therapist and protect her emotional well-being highlights the need for mental health services. The mother’s dementia is mentioned as a health condition affecting well-being.
SDG 5: Gender Equality	Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the private spheres.	The daughter’s account of being physically violated by her mother (“pulled it out of my head”) serves as a narrative example of violence against a woman in the private sphere.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Target 16.2: End abuse… and all forms of violence against… children.	The daughter’s testimony of past abuse (“My mother never missed an opportunity to hit or slap me as a child and once even broke a wooden fanny wacker over my head”) is a qualitative example of physical violence against a child by a caregiver.

Source: syracuse.com