Cultural implications of filial obligation and the Asian Indian American family caregiver

Abstract

Family caregivers in young adulthood from different racial/ethnic groups represent an understudied population. Of this group, Asian Indians are a diverse and fast-growing immigrant population in the US and present unique challenges for health care providers. To illustrate factors influencing a young family caregiver from an under-represented racial/ethnic population, we report on the case of a 33 year-old American from an Asian Indian background who was a caregiver for his father with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). With this case report, we illustrate that medical providers should attend to cultural norms of the family system, including family communication patterns, filial obligation, and decision-making.

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

“…Comparison of the findings with previous studies was difficult owning to the lack of similar meta‐data; however, this finding may have two explanations. First, adult children's inherent gratitude or debt to parents may adversely influence the relationship under study (Baldwin et al, 2017 ). Adult children who are more grateful to their parents may experience more mutuality in their interactions.…”

Diabetes knowledge, risk perception, and quality of life among South Asian caregivers in young adulthood

“…Through such interventions, this may dampen some of the effects of optimistic bias that they may have on their own risk perception of developing diabetes. Third, because of the increase in prevalence rates of T2DM and associated complications seen among the SAP, it may be valuable for training initiatives offered to healthcare providers on how to deliver culturally tailored diabetes-related education and “communicating cross-culturally.” 11 Through culturally tailored education and communication, this may improve the delivery and quality of patient care and meet the unique needs of this young adult caregiver population. Finally, because of the inaccurate risk perceptions of T2DM and inadequate knowledge regarding the cause of diabetes, it may be beneficial to formulate diabetes screening tools and screening procedures for this young population at a much a younger age for health promotion and prevention purposes.…”

“… 10 In addition to age, culture, and gender also influence caregiving. 11 12 For example, South Asian countries have strong patriarchal norms, suggesting a greater reliance on women to take on caregiver responsibilities within households. 12 13 As such, immigrant South Asian women are often faced with the challenges of balancing cultural expectations with the demands of their work, resulting in an increase in caregiver burden relative to their male counterparts.…”

Editor’s Introduction

“…Though the authors of the three articles that follow do not write about narrative per se, I see the studies by Munteanu & Jordan, 4 Baldwin et al, 5 and Spataro et al, 6 are also very much engaged in countering available narratives, and opening up the space for novel ways of accounting for healthcare experiences and situated (re)tellings.…”