How Filial Piety Shapes Benefit Finding Among Family Caregivers: A Narrative Study Based on Adult Child Caregivers of Older Parents With Dementia

This narrative study explored how Chinese filial piety influences benefit finding among adult child caregivers of parents with dementia in Shanghai. Through in-depth interviews with 15 adult child caregivers of parents predominantly living with moderate dementia, we identified filial piety’s dual role: It strengthened caregivers’ role identity and moral responsibility, inspiring intrinsic motivation that enhanced benefit finding while reshaping intergenerational authority. This transformation guided caregivers to balance familial obligations with personal development in medical, daily care, and institutional care decisions, reinterpreting filial ethics through informed caregiving and emotional connection. By balancing parental well-being, filial responsibility, and caregiver sustainability, participants reconstructed filial piety through meaningful companionship, intergenerational responsibility, and self-care. This reflected an evolution from compliant filial piety to balanced filial piety. These findings highlight how culture shapes benefit finding, with implications for dementia family support that honors ethical traditions while meeting contemporary needs.