Caring too much? Cultural lag in African Americans' perceptions of filial responsibilities

This paper explores African Americans' ideas about filial obligations. The findings are based on focus groups with eight different age-homogeneous groups. Although all age groups expressed strong commitment to filial obligations, they differed in their ability to recognize and accept constraints on family care. This variation was clearly related to cohort differences and participants' own experiences as caregivers or care receivers. Viewing our data through the lens of Clark and Anderson's (1965) adaptation model that distinguishes between adaptation, which is always positive, and adjustment, which may be negative, we found that younger cohorts' unbending idealism may lead to maladaptive behaviors should they be called upon suddenly and without preparation to assume the role of primary caregivers.