Caring for elderly parents: Perceived filial obligations among Maghrebine immigrants in Italy

Abstract

The migrant population in Southern European countries is aging. In the next future, long-term care needs of immigrant individuals will be a major issue in the evolution of social policies in these countries. In this context, it becomes important to examine what are the norms of filial obligations that govern the exchange of social support within migrant families. The study focuses on solidarity norms and support expectations among Mahgrebine immigrants living in Italy. It is shown that: i. intergenerational co-residence is seen as the best strategy to cope with the care need of elderly parents; ii. only a minority of respondents, especially those born in Italy or arrived before age 6, think that providing economic support or hiring a professional carer is a good solution. The importance of cultural and religious motivations at the basis of norms of filial obligations was explicitly, particularly as far as cohabitation is concerned. The majority of respondents held a gender-neutral view with respect to the sharing of responsibilities, although some gendered divisions emerged. Respondents who either were born in Italy or migrated before age six are considerably more likely to hold gender-neutral views on the division of informal care work.

Reconciling emotional caregiving and self‐fulfilment: Peruvian migrants in Switzerland supporting parents in Peru

“…For instance, a sense of filial duty and moral obligation to care might be greater when migrants' parents live in countries where there is less public health and community services to support older people (Ho & Chiang, 2017). In other words, the cultural meanings of caregiving are mutually constructed with a social context' institutional conditions and welfare provision (Albertini & Semprebon, 2020).…”

Cuidados transnacionales y vejez. Aproximaciones teóricas y debates pendientes

“…Ello explicaría por qué, por ejemplo, la mayoría de sus encuestados señalaron que la mejor situación para cuidar era que la madre viajara a Italia para ser atendida por alguno de sus hijos. Los autores concluyen que los sistemas con Estados de bienestar menos desarrollados tienden a mantener modelos más familísticos de cuidado, mientras que sociedades con sistemas de bienestar más fuertes tienden a transitar hacia sistemas más individualistas (Albertini y Semprebon, 2020).…”

“…Batthyany, Asesina y Brunet (2007) se preguntan para el caso de Uruguay acerca de cómo los cuidados se distribuyen entre el Estado, el mercado y la familia. Esta tríada está a la base de la definición del sistema familístico (Setién y Acosta, 2010) y de los arreglos formales e informales (Albertini y Semprebon, 2020). La mayor o menor presencia de un Estado de bienestar determinaría el mayor o menor involucramiento de las familias.…”

Cultural traits and second-generation immigrants’ value of informal care

“…Among studies that address immigrants’ values of caregiving, individual beliefs about the importance of the family are a central aspect (Albertini and Semprebon 2020 ; Cheung et al 2020 ; Kobayashi and Funk 2010 ; Merz et al 2009 ; Sharma et al 2012 ). In addition, the economic literature has shown that the importance of the family varies across cultures and plays an important role in the value formation of individuals.…”

“…A transmission process of cultural traits is not only visible for Asian immigrants who migrate to Western countries, but also for other non-Western immigrants. Albertini and Semprebon ( 2020 ) study filial obligations among Mahgrebine immigrants in Italy. The majority of participants regards co-residence as the best solution to cope with the care needs of a lone older frail mother.…”