Comparison of Motivations for Parent Care between Koreans and Americans: A Cross-Cultural Approach

Abstract

This study compares filial motivations of Koreans with those of Americans and

identifies cross-culturally equivalent, as well as country-specific types of filial

motivations. Both groups cited "affection/love," "repayment/reciprocity," and "filial

responsibility/obligation" as major forms of motivation. Despite cultural differences,

there are similarities between the two groups in the relative emphasis on these

qualitative dimensions of parent care. In other kinds of motivation, the two groups are dissimilar. For the Koreans, filial respect, family harmony, and filial sacrifice emerge as outstanding forms of motivation. These forms are not cited by the Americans. The reciprocity of the parent-child relationship, the influence of cultural traditions, and related issues are discussed in relation to filial motivation.