FAMILY SUPPORT AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG MALAYSIAN ELDERLY: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED FILIAL PIETY

Abstract

Filial piety, which refers to showing respect to parents, has wielded a vital effect on the relationship between family support and the life satisfaction of elderlies. However, the mechanism behind this effect is still unclear. To address this gap in the existing literature, the present study aims to investigate the effect of family support on life satisfaction through the mediating role of perceived filial piety among Malaysian seniors. This study employed a cross-sectional design involving 154 seniors aged 60 and above residing in Ipoh, Malaysia. An online survey method was used to collect data from the participants. The SPSS version 21 software was used for descriptive data analysis (means, standard deviations, frequencies, percentages) to describe the sample's characteristics and the study's main variables. SPSS was also used to analyze the correlations between the understudied variables (H1). Mediation analyses were made to estimate the mediating effect of perceived filial piety in the relationship between family support and life satisfaction among seniors (H2). Results indicated that the correlation was significant among the variables. To respond to H2, after controlling age and gender, the effect of family support on life satisfaction was mediated via perceived filial piety. Family support was found to have a significant effect on perceived filial piety and perceived filial piety also significantly predicted life satisfaction. After controlling the effect of perceived filial piety, the direct effect of family support on life satisfaction continues to exist. The indirect effect of family support on life satisfaction through perceived filial piety was found to be significant. The findings suggest that the effect of family support on elderly' life satisfaction may be related to their perceived filial piety. Results indicate that improving family social support increases the life satisfaction of seniors. Perceived filial piety will be an added advantage to improve the life satisfaction of seniors.