Who is taking care of the elderly? Looking at facilitators and barriers in the relation between migration and care behaviour for elderly parents

Abstract

This quantitative study explores to what extent filial obligation, expectations of parents, gender and education level strengthen or weaken caring behaviour for elderly parents for migrants and non-migrants. Previous models show a link between migration, filial obligation and care behaviour, but expectations of parents, gender and education have not been combined with migration as an predictor for care behaviour. To check the hypotheses, data from the LISS panel has been used (N=234). Linear regression and hierarchical linear regression are used to analyze the data. From analyzing the data it can be concluded that being a migrant is positively linked with care behaviour. Only the interaction-effect of migration with expectations of parents was significant. Meaning that the other variables did not influence the relationship between migration and care behaviour. However, age, migration, filial obligation and expectations of parents are positive predictors for care behaviour. To move towards a participatory society in which family care is emphasized. Policy and interventions could focus on migration, filial obligation, age and the expectations of parents. Since this study shows that these are the main predictors for more care behaviour, a qualitative research of these predictors is recommended to get a better understanding of the rationale for this.