The Meaning of “Filial Piety” to Older Chinese Parents
Aging and the Family: Understanding Changes in Structural and Relationship Dynamics
ISBN: 978-1-80071-491-5, eISBN: 978-1-80071-490-8
Publication date: 25 February 2021
Abstract
Purpose: Despite the significance of filial piety in intergenerational relationships and its important influence on parental health and well-being, few studies have explored the personal meaning of filial piety to older parents. This qualitative study aims to address this question.
Design: Responses to an open-ended question of “What makes a filial child in your view?” from a sample of 432 older parents in a rural Chinese county were collected face-to-face and analyzed using content analysis.
Findings: The personal meaning of filial piety varies. Seven broad themes emerged. These include widely persistent traditional filial piety beliefs (Be obedient, Respect, and Maintain frequent contact and show emotional care), filial piety values similar to filial obligations described in Western cultures (Help older parents when in times of need and Be a good citizen and take good care of themselves and their families), and traditional filial piety norms in the absolute form (Take care of every aspect of the parents’ life and Provide financial and material support to parents). Themes were also compared with dimensions of the intergenerational solidarity model.
Originality: Findings reflect the coexistence of traditional and modern filial values in relation to participants’ interpretation of filial piety, indicating that traditional filial piety beliefs are fading even in one of the least developed areas in China. Implications for interventions enhancing offspring’s filial performance are discussed.
Research limitations: Future studies on the understanding of filial piety from the perspective of offspring are warranted to draw a holistic picture of this topic.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
The data collection was supported by the University of Utah Center on Aging 2014 Pilot Grant. I am grateful to Shujun Tian, Xia Sun, Wen Li, and Yang Yang for their valuable assistance with data collection. I thank Ming Wen, Michael F. Timberlake, and Sonia L. Salari for their helpful comments on the original draft. I also wish to acknowledge the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The author has no conflict of interest to disclose.
Citation
Yang, Y. (2021), "The Meaning of “Filial Piety” to Older Chinese Parents", Claster, P.N. and Blair, S.L. (Ed.) Aging and the Family: Understanding Changes in Structural and Relationship Dynamics (Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research, Vol. 17), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 141-154. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1530-353520210000017008
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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