Relationship between filial obligation and caregiver depression among adult children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Abstract Aim To explore the relationship between filial obligation and caregiver depression across cultures. Design Systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods Twelve databases were reviewed for dissertations and peer‐reviewed articles on filial obligation and caregiver depression among adult children, published before January 2020. In total, 476 titles and abstracts were retrieved. Final analysis included six studies; of these, four were included in the meta‐analysis. Results Fixed‐effects model indicated that a stronger perception of filial obligation was associated with increased depressive symptoms among caregivers across cultures (β = 0.14, 95% CI [0.04, 0.24], p 0.05, N = 880). Therefore, caregivers' perceptions of filial obligation should be clinically assessed and normalised to reduce their depressive symptoms.

Keywords

• caregiver
• depression
• filial obligation
• meta‐analysis
• systematic review