Exploring the caregiving experiences of young adults in Singapore: gender roles, filial piety, challenges, and life outlook

Abstract

This study investigates the caregiving experiences of young adults who care for older family members with chronic illnesses in Singapore. This study unveils caregiving experiences, challenges, takeaways, and influences on outlook. Sociological concepts, including gender roles, filial piety, and caregiver strain, have been drawn to understand the findings.

Based on in-depth interviews, it has been revealed that caregiving experiences are shaped by caregivers’ intrinsic motivations, care recipients’ health conditions, and societal expectations of gender and filial piety. Typical challenges include interference with daily routines and emotional burden, with caregivers using either problem-focused or avoidant coping strategies. Lastly, caregiving experiences provide individuals with caregiving skills for the future and influence career paths and ageing plans—both for their parents and themselves. This study contributes to understanding the complexities of caregiving in Singapore’s unique sociocultural context.