Table 2.
Filial Obligation Scores Among Primary Caregivers at Baseline (T1, Wave 1), 1-Year Follow-up (T2, Wave 2): Overall Scores and by Relationship and Living Arrangements
| Variables | Filial obligation: globala (sum of 11 items) | Filial obligation subdimensions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial supportb (three items) | Physical supportc (five items) | Emotional supportd (three items) | ||||||
| T1 | T2 | T1 | T2 | T1 | T2 | T1 | T2 | |
| Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | |
| Overall (across all relationships) | 28.0 (8.7) | 27.3 (8.6)* | 7.7 (3.0) | 7.5 (2.9) | 12.3 (4.6) | 11.9 (4.4)* | 8.1 (2.8) | 7.9 (2.8) |
| By relationship | ||||||||
| Husband | 27.4 (9.6) | 26.8 (9.7) | 7.2 (3.5) | 7.1 (3.1) | 12.3 (4.6) | 12.2 (4.6) | 7.9 (2.8) | 7.5 (3.3) |
| Wife | 25.2 (8.5) | 25.4 (8.0) | 6.6 (3.0) | 6.5 (2.7) | 10.9 (4.4) | 11.1 (4.2) | 7.7 (2.9) | 7.8 (2.8) |
| Son | 32.6 (9.0) | 32.0 (8.2) | 9.4 (2.7) | 9.0 (2.4) | 14.4 (4.6) | 14.3 (4.4) | 8.8 (3.0) | 8.6 (2.5) |
| Daughter | 29.7 (8.2) | 28.9 (7.8) | 8.1 (2.8) | 8.0 (2.5) | 13.1 (4.7) | 12.3 (4.3)** | 8.5 (2.5) | 8.6 (2.4) |
| Daughter-in-law | 27.0 (7.8) | 25.5 (8.6)** | 7.6 (2.7) | 7.2 (2.9) | 11.7 (4.1) | 11.0 (4.3)** | 7.7 (2.8) | 7.3 (2.7)* |
aSum of the three subdomains of filial obligation scales (11 items) assessed using a 5-point Likert scale (I agree to I do not agree). The scale was coded so that a higher value indicated higher filial obligation (4 = Agree, 3 = Somewhat agree, 2 = Can’t say either, 1 = Somewhat disagree, 0 = Disagree). Range: 0–44.
bSum of three items: “It is not necessary for children to give financial support including daily expenses to their parents”; “It is children’s duty to support their parents financially”; “Children should give their parents enough financial support so they do not experience daily difficulties.” The scale was coded so that a higher value indicated higher filial obligation. Range: 0–12.
cSum of five items: “Taking care of parents is not necessarily the children’s role”; “Children should be ready to take care of their parents”; “It is natural for parents to expect their children to take care of them”; “Children who do not take care of their parents neglect their role as children”; “Taking care of parents is the children’s duty.” The scale was coded so that a higher value indicated higher filial obligation. Range: 0–20.
dSum of three items: “Children should have time to enjoy something with their parents”; “Children should make time to spend with their parents”; “Children should occasionally provide their parents opportunities for travel or hobby activities.” The scale was coded so that a higher value indicated higher filial obligation. Range: 0–12.
*p ≥ .05 **p ≤ .01 (paired t tests of average scores at two time points to indicate significant changes).