How it All Began
The other day, I was browsing through the posts on Instagram when an advertisement came up with the caption “Rescue abandoned elderly”. I listened to the story and I couldn’t stop myself from feeling the pain of the parent not living with children.
But, in today's society, it's common for children to leave their parent's house to either study or to earn. When I asked my neighbour about it, she said since the day her daughter left her she couldn't stop missing her; She is not physically well and it was her daughter who used to take good care of her. I sensed the emotional pain, helplessness and loneliness in her teary eyes and broken words.
अज्ञातं मातुर्दुःखमज्ञातं पितुर्विपत्तयः।
स्मृतं तस्माद्वशी भूत्वा तद्वशं नापि चक्षुषा॥
स्मृतं तस्माद्वशी भूत्वा तद्वशं नापि चक्षुषा॥
"Unknown is the sorrows of a mother, unknown are the misfortunes of a father. Therefore, becoming their slave, their submission should be embraced, not even by an eyelid's worth should they be neglected."
To gain insight into the unexpressed emotions and feelings that parents may experience, I conducted primary research by developing a questionnaire and refining it through multiple iterations to ensure it effectively captured the necessary information.
Research plan
I wanted to empathise with parents who do not live with their children and understand the struggles faced by they.
To gather insights from their personal experience, I chose to do qualitative research by performing the one-on-one interview.
I wanted to make sure that their voices were heard and
their struggles were understood.
So, I have prepared the timeline of a project to keep things in line.
Project Timeline
1. Understanding the Problem - 2 days
Observational and secondary research methods have been utilised to determine whether this is an actual problem or not.
The initial set of questions has been prepared to initiate in-depth interview research.
2. Pilot study - 1 day
Since my research requires participants to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in detail, I have chosen in-depth research and focus group methods for this study.
To validate my research methods and interview questions, I conducted a pilot study with two users.
3. Correction and removal of biases- 1 day
People were not comfortable sharing their emotions and experiences when in groups. Therefore, in-depth research methods have been chosen.
Corrections have been made to the questionnaire to address these issues.
4. Recruitment - 2 days
Our research required people who live apart from their children, so we shortlisted those who have been living apart for at least a year.
Individuals with different genders, professions, and backgrounds have been shortlisted to gain insights at a broader level.
Since the research topic is very personal to the people, I took their consent by informing them about my study and promised to maintain confidentiality before starting the research.
I want to thank my participants for being there and sharing their experiences in the interview.
5. User interviews- 4 days
After familiarizing the participants with the research objectives, interviews were conducted with seven users.
After conducting the interviews, two insights were discarded because they did not go as expected. This may have been due to participants feeling uncomfortable sharing their personal lives or due to time constraints.
6. Documentation- 3 days
"After conducting the interviews, the data was collected and analysed. The insights were then communicated through sharing the data and telling empathy stories."
Interview Plan
I structured the interview with an introduction followed by a warm-up session before moving on to the main questions and at last thanking my participants for their precious time.
Warm-up questions
"I started with simple questions that made participants feel more comfortable and confident, so they could believe they knew the answers and they could help.
• What is your name?
• How are you doing?
• How was your childhood and when were you born?
• How many children do you have?
• Where do you live? With whom do you live?
• What is your name?
• How are you doing?
• How was your childhood and when were you born?
• How many children do you have?
• Where do you live? With whom do you live?
Core questions
Then, I dived into the core questions to deeply explore the user's experience.
1. Relationships
1.1 Who do you talk to on a regular basis?
1.2 What kinds of conversations do you have with your close friends and family?
1.3 Whose point of view do you regard the most?
1.2 What kinds of conversations do you have with your close friends and family?
1.3 Whose point of view do you regard the most?
2. Security & Care
2.1 Who assists you in meeting your daily needs?
2.2 Who will accompany you on your walk?
2.3 Do you require assistance with basic requirements such as eating and walking?
2.4 Who aids you in your everyday routine when you are ill?
2.5 Do you feel secure in your own home?
2.6 Who looks after you?
2.1 Who assists you in meeting your daily needs?
2.2 Who will accompany you on your walk?
2.3 Do you require assistance with basic requirements such as eating and walking?
2.4 Who aids you in your everyday routine when you are ill?
2.5 Do you feel secure in your own home?
2.6 Who looks after you?
3. Spending Time
3.1 How do you manage your daily routine?
3.2 What part of your routine is difficult and why?
3.3 What do you do in your free time?
3.4 What is your hobby? How often do you practice your hobby?
3.5 Which activities of the day excite you?
3.1 How do you manage your daily routine?
3.2 What part of your routine is difficult and why?
3.3 What do you do in your free time?
3.4 What is your hobby? How often do you practice your hobby?
3.5 Which activities of the day excite you?
4. Loneliness
4.1 What does family time mean to you, how much of it do you spend, and with whom do you spend it?
4.2 Do you feel sad when a close relative leaves your home?
4.3 Who has had an influence on your life? Who aided you in becoming the person you are today?
4.1 What does family time mean to you, how much of it do you spend, and with whom do you spend it?
4.2 Do you feel sad when a close relative leaves your home?
4.3 Who has had an influence on your life? Who aided you in becoming the person you are today?
5. Memory
5.1 Can you tell me about a recent occasion where you intended to do something but forgot…and why?
5.1 Can you tell me about a recent occasion where you intended to do something but forgot…and why?
6. Health
6.1 How fit do you think you are? What do you do to maintain your health? How excited are you with the phrase "fitness"?
6.2 Do you have any chronic illnesses?
6.3 Are you using any medications?
6.4 Do you experience fatigue at any time of the day? If you're at ease, could you please relate some of the most recent times you became tired?
6.5 What foods do you eat daily? Is it cooked? Do you follow a special diet for health reasons?
6.6 What are your eating habits?
6.7 Have you noticed any recent changes in your body as a result of food or medication?
6.1 How fit do you think you are? What do you do to maintain your health? How excited are you with the phrase "fitness"?
6.2 Do you have any chronic illnesses?
6.3 Are you using any medications?
6.4 Do you experience fatigue at any time of the day? If you're at ease, could you please relate some of the most recent times you became tired?
6.5 What foods do you eat daily? Is it cooked? Do you follow a special diet for health reasons?
6.6 What are your eating habits?
6.7 Have you noticed any recent changes in your body as a result of food or medication?
Empathy
User Journey Map
A user journey map has been created to gain insights into their users' experiences, and identify pain points.
User insights
I am grateful to all the participants for sharing their experiences that helped me to gather valuable insight into the unexpressed pain of parents. Following are some of the insights I got from the interview.
Validating with secondary research
Parents who live apart from their children may struggle to maintain communication and feel connected. According to Dykstra and Fokkema of the University of Oxford, parents who lived distant from their children had less regular contact and less emotionally close interactions with them (Dykstra & Fokkema, 2011). They find it difficult to maintain a parental role, especially if they have very little contact with their children. According to a study conducted by the University of Exeter, parents struggle with disciplining and providing emotional support to them (Baldock et al., 2013).
Parents who live apart from their children may use multiple kinds of coping methods to manage their emotions and maintain their relationships. A study conducted by the University of Bath discovered that parents who lived apart from their children relied on technology such as video calls and social media to keep connected. (Kapoor & Holloway, 2018). They may develop health problems as a result of the stress and emotional strain of being apart from their children. A University of Illinois researcher found that grandparents who lived far away from their grandkids had higher levels of depressive symptoms than those who lived nearby (Hayslip et al., 2012).
Women in India are more likely than men to live apart from their children due to variables such as marriage, migration, and employment. According to a study conducted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, women who lived apart from their children had more emotional strain than men and were more likely to express depression (Patel et al., 2013).
Conclusions
The struggle of parents is real. They are suffering from emotional, physical and mental levels. It's the time to acknowledge and hear the inner voice of parents and provide them with the support and resource they need to overcome these challenges. This study has helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the pain most of our parents are suffering silently.
The project helped me to understand the process of user research from planning, testing, and finalising to conducting the research.
Thank you for your time :)
