Continuity and Change in Filial Piety among Older Asian Immigrants in Australia

The traditional concept of filial piety characterising Asian cultures has undergone change. However, research is limited on how filial support is redefined and negotiated in Asian immigrant families in the context of acculturation. This study adopted theories of acculturation and life course to examine how continuity and change of filial piety were practised in Asian immigrants’ families in Australia. Data were collected from interviews with 73 older immigrants from Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Malaysian, Japanese, Myanmar, Lao, Indian, and Pakistani cultural groups. Their age ranged from 65 to 93 years. Thematic analysis showed that participants continued to value filial piety as their cultural tradition, but adjusted expectations of filial practices in response to acculturation experiences, age at immigration, and sociocultural contexts. The findings revealed the interconnections between continuity and change of culture and suggested integrating community and family care to better support older immigrants to age well in a foreign land.