Perceptions of filial piety among Taiwanese university students

Aim. This paper is a report of a study to explore the perceptions of filial piety among university students in Taiwan. Background. Young Asians have been more influenced than their parents by recent social and economic developments, creating an intergenerational gap in attitudes towards filial piety. This gap directly influences expectations about ways of caring for ageing parents and intergenerational well-being. Resolving these differences depends on intergenerational communication. Methods. Data were collected in four audiotaped focus group interviews with 40 students (37 females, three males, average age = 21.3 years) at two universities in northern Taiwan during 2006. Transcripts were analysed by thematic analysis. Findings. Taiwanese university students are likely to practise filial duty differently from their parents, but this does not mean they are less filial. Five major themes indicated that participants viewed filial piety as following cultural traditions, reciprocating parents' love and care, loving parents from the heart, achieving intergenerational well-being, but practising filial piety would depend on future circumstances. Conclusion. The findings reflect a shift from their parents' views, particularly the filial practice of living with one's older parents. These young adults loved and respected their parents, but would consider alternative living situations for them, depending on future circumstances. As considering an alternative to culturally traditional filial practice may have an impact on intergenerational well-being, we suggest that nurses could act as a bridge to facilitate communication between the two generations.