Association between war-related stress and caregiver burden among adult children caring for aging parents

Abstract

Objective: This study explored the caregiver burden of adults caring for aging parents during wartime, its relationship to war-related stress, and the roles of filial piety and resilience as potential protective factors. Background: Family members face significant psychological stress during wartime. Although filial piety and resilience have been found to alleviate caregiver burden, their effects in emergencies are underexplored. Methods: Participants were 398 Israelis aged 40 and older caring for aging parents after the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Participants completed a structured online questionnaire and analysis was conducted using a moderated mediation model. Results: Findings indicated that filial piety partially mediated the relationship between war-related stress and caregiver burden. Although resilience did not moderate direct relationships between war-related stress and caregiver burden, or between war-related stress and filial piety, it did moderate the relationship between filial piety and caregiver burden. Conclusion: This study highlights the complex interplay between war-related stress, resilience, filial piety, and caregiver burden, indicating that resilience alone is insufficient to alleviate caregiver burden during wartime. Implications: The study enhances understanding of caregiving dynamics in crisis situations and underscores the need for more comprehensive interventions to support adult-child caregivers during emergencies.