Cultural differences in caregiving motivations for demented parents: Korean caregivers versus American caregivers

Int J Aging Hum Dev. 1997;44(2):115-27. doi: 10.2190/BLY5-07M1-6VVY-XJMX.

Abstract

The study examined differences in motivations for parent care of Korean caregivers and Caucasian American caregivers of elderly parents with dementia. A number of American caregivers, mostly daughters of the demented parents, had affectionate relationships with their parents, but they expressed a relatively low degree of filial responsibility. In contrast, among Korean caregivers, the care of demented parents was predominantly the responsibility of daughters-in-law who were less likely to have affectionate relationships with the parents-in-law. However, Korean caregivers expressed a significantly higher level of filial responsibility than the American caregivers. Some cultural differences between the two ethnic groups associated with parent care were discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison*
  • Dementia / nursing*
  • Ethnicity / psychology*
  • Family
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Korea
  • Male
  • Motivation*
  • Nuclear Family / psychology
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Sampling Studies
  • United States