Filial Responsibility Toward Older Parents: A Systematic Review of the Tools Used

Understanding filial responsibility toward older parents enhances the quality of communication between adult children and their older parents, improves the psychological well-being of the children, elevates the level of care provided to the older adults, and helps prevent their institutionalization. Various tools have been designed, albeit in a fragmented manner, to assess filial responsibility. The researchers conducted this study with the aim of examining and introducing existing tools regarding filial responsibility towards older parents. The study was carried out as a systematic review conducted according to the PRISMA-COSMIN for OMIs 2024 guidelines. Studies on filial responsibility were searched across international databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and the search engine Google Scholar, using relevant keywords without time or language restrictions. Based on the study's objective, the tools used to assess filial responsibility in various studies were extracted, and their content, structure, target groups, and psychometric properties were analyzed and compared. A total of 24 tools were identified and among them, those developed by Shi & Wang (2019), Fu et al. (2020), Hanfei et al. (2020), and Wang et al. (2023) appeared to be more comprehensive. This is due to their use of factor analysis methods, criterion validity, convergent and divergent validity, and various approaches for examining internal consistency in the psychometric evaluation process. Additionally, these tools stand out for their recency, appropriate sample sizes, and the use of qualitative interview-based approaches in their design. The use of appropriate tools for assessing filial responsibility plays a critical role in accurately identifying the current situation and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving filial responsibility. Researchers should select the appropriate tool based on the objectives and context of their studies, and undertake the necessary steps for translation, cultural adaptation, and validation. Where a precise assessment is required, a hybrid approach may be preferable, and researchers should consider designing and validating a practical tool suited to the economic, social, and cultural conditions of each country.