Filial piety,Caregiving Self-Efficacy,and Caregiver Burden in Sandwich Generation Caregivers: What Are the Relationships?

Abstract

Caring for an elderly parent, while also raising children, presents unique challenges. This study explores how filial piety—respect for elders—affects the stress of such caregivers, focusing on their caregiving self-efficacy, or confidence in their abilities. Surveying 202 caregivers, a link was found between filial piety and higher self-efficacy, leading to a sense of competence in caregiving tasks. However, this confidence did not uniformly reduce caregiver burden; it depended on the caregiving aspect. Confidence in handling emotional stress and securing breaks correlated with less burden, while dealing with disruptive behaviors correlated with more. These nuances highlight the complex role of self-efficacy in caregiver well-being, emphasizing the need for targeted support for the sandwich generation in various caregiving scenarios.