Purpose: Filial responsibility as a cultural belief has played a major role in efforts to understand ethnic group differences in health/social service utilization and caregiving patterns in the U.S. However, as immigrants acculturate to the U.S., there are questions as to whether cultural beliefs such as filial responsibility in the U.S. function as they did to in their former culture and country. A two-stage study drew upon a theoretical perspective in which filial responsibility was viewed within stages of societal development. Hypotheses were tested related to group differences in filial responsibility expectations in Korean and Korean-American older persons (those over aged 60).

Methods: In Stage I, historical analysis techniques considered and described the evolving phenomenon of filial responsibility in the context of patterns of bartering/economic exchanges in European countries. A series of hypotheses were then identified. In Stage II, between September 2003 and March 2004, data were collected from in person interviews with 232 Korean-American older people (mean age: 70.1) in New York City, and from 2139 Korean older people in South Korea (mean age: 72.7). Multiple-regression analysis was employed to examine the differences and identify explanatory variables affecting filial responsibility expectations of the two groups (Korean older population=1, Korean-American older people=0).

Results: 1) The historical analysis suggested that filial responsibility was a form of economic exchange across generations designed to maximize social optimization. This analysis suggested a hypothesis for further testing that when a society is highly industrialized, where exchanges are through the free market, and there is job mobilization and industrial capitalism rather than intergenerational/kin relationships, filial responsibility/expectations tend to lose their effectiveness. 2) Multiple-group comparison showed that expectations of filial responsibility in the Korean older population were significantly higher than in the Korean American older population (t=7.71, p <.000). Multiple-regression analysis showed that the Korean group has significantly higher filial responsibility expectations than the Korean-American group (b=.92, p<.000), and higher affiliation/extension of their social networks except utilizing senior center (b=-.26, p <.000); church (b=.24, p <.000); alumni association (b=.16, p <.01); voluntary activities (b=.18, p <.05). Differences in secure attachment level (b=.16, p<.001), and subjective health status (b=.17, p<.001) were statistically significant as well. No significant or explanatory differences were found related to socio-economic status (e.g. subjective social class, income, education), or satisfaction with their son or daughter.

Implications: Although key cultural concepts may still likely be of influence throughout life, the findings here suggest that given years of residing in the US (mean years: 18.58), the concept of filial responsibility does not adequately explain behaviors and expectations in old age. Service providers and policy-makers need to aware of and reflect these changes within service delivery systems.