Filial Responsibility Scale – Chinese Version

Description

Filial piety, articulated as “百善孝为先” (“Filial piety is the foremost of all virtues”), is a crucial variable for understanding intergenerational interactions in the context of Chinese culture (Wang et al., 2009). It exemplifies the finest traditions of Chinese culture, encompassing human nature, social harmony, and family unity. Filial piety serves as the foundation of virtues and the essence of civilization. It is a family relationship guideline rooted in blood ties as well as a standard of social morality and norms. In light of cultural traditions, significant changes in the contemporary economic foundation, accelerated modernization and urbanization (Chong & Liu, 2016), and severe impacts from Western values (Li Qiming, Chen Zhi Xia, 2016) have challenged traditional models of filial piety. Exploring the evolving concept of filial piety during this transitional phase has become essential for promoting traditional culture and establishing cultural confidence in China.

Authors and Contact Email

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Purpose

As China’s aging population increases, the role of filial piety in guaranteeing family eldercare functions and constructing a societal framework that emphasizes caring, respecting, and supporting the elderly is of significant importance (Chen Tao, Qing Shisong, 2019). Economic and medical developments worldwide have led to a decline in global mortality rates and increased life expectancy, intensifying the demand for elderly care. This has made providing care for aging parents an essential normative activity in the lives of adult children, thereby arousing great interest among researchers regarding this subject.

Test Year

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Administration Method and Scoring

Van der Pas et al. (2005) created the “孝道期待量表” (filial responsibility scale), which includes four dimensions: 情感期待 (emotional expectations), 工具期待 (instrumental expectations), 联络期待 (contact expectations), and 信息期待 (information expectations), comprising a total of 16 items. A 5-point Likert scale is used for scoring, where higher scores indicate greater levels of filial piety expectations.

Reliability and Validity

Liu Jing revised the aforementioned scale and conducted reliability analysis for its dimensions. The internal consistency coefficient ranges from .816 to .955, and the split-half reliability ranges from .821 to .907, indicating high reliability.

Factors and Subscales

The filial responsibility scale consists of four dimensions:
1. 情感期待 (emotional expectations)
2. 工具期待 (instrumental expectations)
3. 联络期待 (contact expectations)
4. 信息期待 (information expectations)

Keywords

Filial piety, eldercare, family dynamics, aging population, intergenerational relationships, cultural values

Items in Chinese

1. 子女就应该住的离父母近一些方便照顾父母。
2. 子女就应该照顾生病的父母。
3. 子女就应该在经济上支持父母。
4. 住在父母附近的子女至少一周要去看望父母一次。
5. 子女就应该多与父母沟通、交流，例如通过打电话、写信或探望。
6. 子女就应该对父母负责。
7. 子女就应该在一些特殊场合与父母团聚，例如过年过节和婚丧嫁娶。
8. 父母应该和子女商量对他们生活有重大影响的事。
9. 子女就应该在情感上支持父母。
10. 为了父母，子女就应该心甘情愿地放弃一些自己的空闲时间。
11. 在紧急情况下，子女就应该为父母腾出个房间。
12. 子女就应该向父母提供建议。
13. 为了照顾父母，子女就应该调整自己的工作，例如，少加班或暂时减少工作时间。
14. 子女就应该时刻关注父母的健康。
15. 为了照料父母，子女就应该调整自己在家的时间，例如，把任务安排给别人，或暂时把任务放一边。
16. 子女就应该帮助父母熟悉医疗保健服务。

Items in English

1. Children should live close to their parents.
2. Children should take care of their sick parents.
3. Children should give their parents financial support.
4. Children who live nearby should visit their parents at least once a week.
5. Children should phone their parents on a regular basis.
6. Children should feel responsible for their parents.
7. Children and parents should be together at special occasions, such as Christmas and weddings.
8. Parents should be able to talk to their children about matters of personal importance that influence their lives.
9. Children should give emotional support to their parents.
10. Children should be willing to give up free time for their parents.
11. In emergencies, children should make room for their parents in their home.
12. Children should offer advice to their parents.
13. Children should adjust their work situation to help their parents, for example, by working less overtime or temporarily working fewer hours.
14. Children should monitor their parents’ health.
15. Children should adjust their situation at home to help their parents, for example, by assigning activities to others or putting activities aside temporarily.
16. Children should familiarize their parents with health care services.

References

李西营, 金奕彤, 刘静, 张星宇, 皮忠玲. (2022). 子女越孝顺老年人越幸福吗?老年人孝道期待的作用. 心理学报, 54 (11), 1381-1390.
刘静. 老年人孝道期待的实现程度对主观幸福感的影响[D].陕西师范大学,2021. DOI:10.27292/d.cnki.gsxfu.2021.000843.
van der Pas, S., van Tilburg, T. G., & Knipscheer, C. P. M. (2005). Measuring older adults’ filial responsibility expectations: Exploring the application of a vignette technique and an item scale. Educational & Psychological Measurement, 65(6), 1026-1045.