The aim of present study was to ascertain whether there were any differences and relations in familism (collectivism vs. individualism) filial responsibility help behavior difficulty in help for their parents -in-law and their own parents.
The respon...
The aim of present study was to ascertain whether there were any differences and relations in familism (collectivism vs. individualism) filial responsibility help behavior difficulty in help for their parents -in-law and their own parents.
The respondents were 552 married women in their thirties forties and fifties.
Ok Sun-hwa(1989)'s Seelbach (1978)'s Cicirelli(l983)'s and Chang Sun-ju(1989)'s scale were utilized to tap the familism , filial responsibility , helping behavior and difficulties in help respectively.
The major results of the study were summerized as follows :
1. Married women perceived relatively high level of familism and filial resposibility and moderate levels helping behavior and difficulty in help towards their parents and in-law parents as well.
Among the demographic variables , education , income and age of the married daughters and daughters-in-law were found to be correlated to both familism and filial responsibility of support for parents. Also, education and age was negatively related to helping behaviors.
The significant differences showed in the degree of difficulty in help according to educational level , income , job status and health status of parents.
2. Married women reported similar levels of filial responsibility of support towards parents in law and their own parents. However significant differences were found between parents-in-law and their own parents in helping behavior and difficulties in help.
3. Regression analysis revealed that living association (living with parents or not ) , the level of filial responsibility , and education level proved to be significant predictors on the helping behavior for parents-in-law explaining 46 % of the total variance.
On the other hand, filial responsibility living pattern , and income level of 'the parents were powerful in predicting in helping behavior of their own parents accounting 24 % of the total explained variance.
4. A path analysis model indicated that helping behavior , health status of parents and religious proferences influenced directly to difficulties in help toward parents-in-law.
While helping behavior , income level of parents and familism were directly associated with difficulties in help for parents of their own.
Therefore helping behavior and difficulty in help were significantly mediated by familism and filial responsibility for support of both parents-in-law and their own parents.