Filial responsibility in care for elderly parents: A mixed study

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between attitudes of filial responsibility and care behaviors of caregiving children. Methods: A mixed-method study with concomitant triangulation of data with 100 caregiving children of elderly people linked to primary care services. At the quantitative stage, the Filial Expectation and Filial Duty Scales were applied to assess the attitudes regarding filial responsibility. Care behaviors were assessed through instrumental, emotional and financial support, companionship, and visitation. At the qualitative stage, open-ended questions about care behaviors and attitudes were used. Inferential and thematic analyses and triangulation of the data were done. Results: Financial and emotional support showed an association with Filial Duty (p = 0.050, p = 0.001) and Filial Expectation (p = 0.013, p = 0.023), respectively. At the qualitative stage, these filial behaviors emerged as financial overload and teachings for their own children to care for them in old age. Companionship and visitation were associated only with Filial Duty (p = 0.015), similar to the results found in the testimonials relative to be a natural duty and satisfaction of being present in the life of the parents. There was no association between attitudes of filial responsibility and help in activities of daily living, diverging from the findings of the category “Difficulties in being a caregiving child.” Conclusion: Understanding attitudes and behaviors of care contributes to the improvement of the quality of attention of the professionals that assist this population.