WORLD EDUCATION CONNECT MULTIDISCIPLINARY E-PUBLICATION
Vol. V Issue IX (September 2025)
International Circulation
This is an open-access, peer-reviewed, and refereed international publication in online & printed versions that features research papers, abstracts, theses, dissertations, and journals. It is registered to the ISSN National Center of the Philippines, and ISSN International Center, the Global Index for Continuing Resources with ISSN (Online) 2799-0842 and ISSN (Print) 2799-130X.
World Education Connect Multidisciplinary e-Publication, Vol. V, Issue IX (September 2025), pp.136-142
Authors
Shairelle S. Apilar, Andrea T. Amago, Sheenagin D. Canuto, Annabelle A. Dela Rama
Language and Literature Unit
Abuyog Community College
ABSTRACT
This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of adult children as caregivers for their aging parents in Abuyog, Leyte. Grounded in the Filial Care Theory and Resilience Theory, it delved into adult children’s motivations, challenges, coping strategies, and realizations in providing care for their aging parents. Using a phenomenological approach, it employed a semi-structured interview on eight participants.
The findings show participants’ varied motivations in providing care for their aging parents such as the desire to repay the parents’ sacrifices and experiencing a sense of duty and gratitude. Additionally, it revealed that participants struggle with emotional and psychological strain, financial difficulties, role strain, and issues in communication but rely on self-relaxation, social and familial support, spiritual faith, and reframing their role positively as coping strategies. It also delved on how the participants’ experience affected their perceptions on aging, providing insights and realizations.
Moreover, this study contributes to the limited study on adult children as caregivers for their aging parents and highlights the need to establish support programs and workshops to relieve caregiver burden and aid them in providing care to their aging parents.
Keywords: caregiving, adult children, debt of gratitude, filial responsibility, repay
