Older Filipino immigrants’ reconfiguration of traditional filial expectations: a focus ethnographic study

Abstract

Background: One of the many socio-cultural issues impacting older immigrants in host countries is the cultural expectations of filial piety from their adult children. Objective: To understand older Filipino immigrants’ beliefs and values towards filial expectations. Design: Focused ethnography. Results: Two major themes were identified. The first theme ‘moving away from filial expectations’ drew out older Filipino’s changing views of cultural expectations from their adult children. The second theme ‘maintaining cultural values through good family relationships’ highlighted the importance of acknowledging the cultural values considered to be most important by older Filipinos, which was having harmonious relationships and avoiding family conflict. Conclusion: The reconfigured expectation was salient with participants’ who identified ‘not being a burden’ to their adult children and the ardent desire to maintain positive family relationships. Impact Statement: Nurses need to be aware of changes to our current understanding of filial piety when providing care to older Filipinos.