Relationship between filial obligation and caregiver depression among adult children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

AIM: To explore the relationship between filial obligation and caregiver depression across cultures. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta‐analysis. METHODS: Twelve databases were reviewed for dissertations and peer‐reviewed articles on filial obligation and caregiver depression among adult children, published before January 2020. In total, 476 titles and abstracts were retrieved. Final analysis included six studies; of these, four were included in the meta‐analysis. RESULTS: Fixed‐effects model indicated that a stronger perception of filial obligation was associated with increased depressive symptoms among caregivers across cultures (β = 0.14, 95% CI [0.04, 0.24], p < 0.01, N = 394). However, a non‐significant effect size in the correlation between these two variables was found in samples predominated by Caucasian and mixed‐blood caregivers (r = 0.03, 95% CI [−0.03, 0.10], p > 0.05, N = 880). Therefore, caregivers' perceptions of filial obligation should be clinically assessed and normalised to reduce their depressive symptoms.