Effect of Filial Piety and Intimacy on Caregiving Stress among Chinese Adult Married Children Living with Parents

Abstract

This study investigated how filial piety and intimacy were applied to family caregiving stress. Data were obtained from a survey of 295 family caregivers in Xuan Ceobg and Chi Zhou, a city in An Hui Province of China from January to February 2014. The majority of caregiving was being provided for one’s own parents 78.3%, which was twice the rate of caregiving for a spouse’s parents. On responsibility, ‘caregiving by sharing with brothers/sisters equally’ was most common at 52.9%, followed by main caregiver at 27.5% and sole caregiver at 19.7%. Of living with elderly parents, 40.3% of caregivers did and 59.7% did not. The mean score for filial piety was 3.28 points, intimacy was 4.12 points, and caregiving stress was 2.19 points on a 5-point Likert scale. Of caregivers living with parents, filial piety increased caregiving stress but intimacy reduced stress for sole caregivers. Only caregivers not living with parents could reduce caregiving stress with intimacy.Keywords: Caregiving Stress, Chinese Adult Children, Component, Filial Piety, Intimacy, Living with Parents