Filial piety as a protective factor for depression in survivors of childhood abuse

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment of various types has been associated with onset of depression in adults. Previous epidemiological studies in Asian countries have confirmed a high level of childhood maltreatment, especially physical maltreatment. Yet, depression appears to be less prevalent in Asian countries than in western cultures. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of a Chinese cultural factor, namely filial piety, against clinical depression. The study also aimed to examine the relation between filial piety, childhood maltreatment-specific inferences and adult inferential styles, so as to understand the mechanism of how filial piety protects against depression in Chinese population. Depressed outpatients (n = 80) and community controls (n = 80) were recruited from a psychiatric out-patient clinic and from community centres respectively. The two groups were compared on levels of filial piety, adult inferential styles and levels of childhood maltreatment. Depressed participants, compared to community controls, had higher levels of reported experiences of childhood maltreatment and lower levels of filial piety. Filial piety moderates adult negative inferential style and global belief of maltreatment through interacting with reported experiences of childhood maltreatment. Such moderation effect was found only in physical and emotional child maltreatment experiences, but not in sexual child maltreatment. Filial piety might be a protective factor against depression through its moderating effect on explanations and global belief of childhood maltreatment experiences.

Factors associated with depressive symptoms in older Taiwanese adults in a long-term care community

“…This finding contradicted prior findings, e.g., Li et al (2011), in which community-dwelling elderly adults in Beijing, China, who perceived that their children failed to demonstrate filial piety, tended to be depressed. In addition, our findings stand in contrast to previous studies that have predominately focused on adult children's perspective (Cheng and Chan, 2006;Ng et al, 2011). In addition, our findings stand in contrast to previous studies that have predominately focused on adult children's perspective (Cheng and Chan, 2006;Ng et al, 2011).…”

“…(2011) assert that this depression may have been a result of “loss of face” or shame, as a consequence of negative emotions surrounding lack of filial piety. In addition, our findings stand in contrast to previous studies that have predominately focused on adult children's perspective (Cheng and Chan, 2006; Ng et al ., 2011). Filial piety as a protective factor against depression had been found in adult survivors of childhood maltreatment (Ng et al ., 2011).…”

“…In addition, our findings stand in contrast to previous studies that have predominately focused on adult children's perspective (Cheng and Chan, 2006; Ng et al ., 2011). Filial piety as a protective factor against depression had been found in adult survivors of childhood maltreatment (Ng et al ., 2011). Two possible explanations for these discrepant findings include first, the elders in this sample had a strong expectation (M = 7.44) and desire to be cared for in their own or their child's home.…”

Families and family therapy in Hong Kong

“…In the west, family therapists might encourage depressed children to gain independence from their overcontrolling parents. This strategy might not be benefi cial for a child from a Chinese family, since there are studies suggesting that fi lial piety may be a protective factor against depression among service users in an outpatient setting (Ng & Bhugra, 2008) and among survivors of childhood abuse (Ng et al, 2011). Instead of encouraging depressed children to ' rebel ' against their parents to gain independence, family therapists may provide the child with a more benign explanation of parental over-involvement (e.g.…”