Association between attitudes of filial responsibility and parent caregiving behavior

• Published in: Educational gerontology Vol. 45; no. 3; pp. 191 - 200
• Main Authors: Aires, Marines, Mocellin, Duane, Dal Pizzol, Fernanda Laís Fengler, Bierhals, Carla Cristiane Becker Kottwitz, Chappell, Neena L., de Morais, Eliane Pinheiro, Girardi Paskulin, Lisiane Manganelli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Routledge 04.03.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Aging (Individuals); Attitudes; Caregivers; Expectation; Older parents
• ISSN: 0360-1277; 1521-0472
• DOI: 10.1080/03601277.2019.1600844

Objective: To analyze the association between attitudes of filial responsibility and adult child caregivers' behaviors in the Southern Region of Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 100 child caregivers of older adults. The data were collected through an interview using the protocol of filial responsibility adapted and validated to Brazilian Portuguese. Filial Expectation and Filial Piety scales evaluated the attitudes of filial responsibility. Caring behaviors assessed were: instrumental support, emotional, financial support, and companionship. The variables that presented p< .20 value in the bivariate analysis were inserted into a multivariate Poisson regression model. Results: Financial and emotional support behaviors were significantly associated with filial piety (p = .050 and p = .001, respectively) and filial expectation (p = .013 and p = .023, respectively). Providing companionship was associated with filial piety (p = .015). Conclusion: Attitudes of filial responsibility are associated with some but not all caregiving behaviors. Brazilians caring for older parents show more similarities to Chinese than to Canadian caregivers. Furthermore, filial responsibility and caregiving behaviors are strongly affected by Brazilian social and cultural norms. Reasons are discussed.