Changing Attitudes toward Care of Aging Parents: The Influence of Education, International Travel, and Gender

Abstract

Population aging is a key public health issue facing many nations, and is particularly pronounced in many Asian countries. At the same time, attitudes toward filial obligation are also rapidly changing, with a decreasing sense that children are responsible for caring for elderly parents. This investigation blends the family versus nonfamily mode of social organization framework with a life course perspective to provide insight into the processes of ideational change regarding filial responsibility, highlighting the influence of education and international travel. Using data from a longitudinal study in Nepal—the Chitwan Valley Family Study—results demonstrate that education and international travel are associated with a decrease in attitudes toward filial obligation. However, findings further reveal that the impact of education and international travel vary both across the life course and by gender.

Offspring education and parental mortality: Evidence from South Asia

“…We find compelling evidence that adult sons’ educational attainment is associated with men’s healthier behaviors and greater support, as well as women’s health behaviors and lower mortality. Going to school can dramatically shift individuals’ attitudes and expectations regarding caregiving roles (Caldwell, 1982; Compernolle, 2015; Lesthaeghe & Surkyn, 1988), so researchers have posited that the education of younger generations could disrupt traditional care arrangements. Our results offer no evidence that more highly educated sons balk at historical cultural expectations to provide for their parents once they are in need.…”

“…Women and men with more highly educated sons may be especially apt to pursue healthier behaviors in rural Nepal, where evidence suggests that younger adults—especially more highly educated ones—are less likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as tobacco use, relative to their less educated seniors (Bhatta, 2010; Sreeramareddy, Ramakrishnareddy, Kumar, Sathian, & Arokiasamy, 2011). Furthermore, because education shifts the dynamics of the parent-child relationship in agrarian communities in Nepal (Compernolle, 2015), it may heighten sons’ authority over health issues as parents increasingly view their sons as knowledgeable. As a result, parents may be more likely to model their sons’ healthier behaviors—such as not using tobacco—and may be more receptive if their sons provide health-related advice.…”

“…Moreover, the majority of older adults in Nepal report at least one functional limitation—suggesting that they are commonly in need of direct support not only in daily life, but also to access healthcare (Bista & Joshi, 2015; Chalise, Saito, & Kai, 2007). In a context where education influences young men’s attitudes (Compernolle, 2015) and life course (Williams, 2009) in ways that could disrupt—not necessarily foster—intergenerational transfers, the salience of this pathway is unclear. Nonetheless, although young men’s education is known to reduce their general sense of filial obligation in this setting (Compernolle, 2015), when their own parents become ill and are in need of care, more highly educated sons may be more likely to fulfill cultural expectations than their attitudes in the abstract suggest.…”

“…In a context where education influences young men’s attitudes (Compernolle, 2015) and life course (Williams, 2009) in ways that could disrupt—not necessarily foster—intergenerational transfers, the salience of this pathway is unclear. Nonetheless, although young men’s education is known to reduce their general sense of filial obligation in this setting (Compernolle, 2015), when their own parents become ill and are in need of care, more highly educated sons may be more likely to fulfill cultural expectations than their attitudes in the abstract suggest. Thus, more highly educated and better resourced adult sons may provide their aging parents with the functional support they need to complete such tasks like seek medical care.…”

‘It is a Big Thing’: Exploring the Impact of Osteoarthritis from the Perspective of Adults Caring for Parents – The Sandwich Generation

“…It is also known that, in spite of escalating spend on health and social care, one million people have care and support needs that the state does not meet (Vlacantoni et al, ). At the same time, there is an awareness in many cultures across the world that attitudes toward filial obligation are also changing, with a decreasing sense that children hold responsibility for caring for their ageing parents (Compernolle, ). Given such large numbers of older people with long‐term conditions, and the economic pressures upon healthcare systems in many countries, there is a need to discover more about the impact of caring for family members with long‐term musculoskeletal conditions, the levels of willingness or ability to care among family members, and the management strategies used and needed to support care.…”