Filial maturity has been discussed as important part of a successful development. In two studies we investigated, whether it is related to the subjective burden of care for demented parents and whether there are correlations to the early relationship between the caring child and their parents.

N = 61 adult children, who took care for a demented mother and/or father were recruited fort his study. We used the following scales and tests: The Louvain Filial Maturity Scale, the Freiburger Persönlichkeitsinventar for the personality profile, the Symptom Check List (SCL-90) for general psychopathology, the Nurses Observation Geriatric Scale (NOSGER) for the caregiver-rated symptom profile of the demented parent, the Zarit Burden Interview for caregiver burden. The demented parent were investigated by experts using a standardised interview for the diagnosis of dementia (SIDAM) and the MMSE for dementia severity. In the second study we interviewed N = 47 children also N = 27 of their non-caring siblings. In addition to the above mentioned instruments, we applied the Parental Bonding Scale.

Overall filial maturity was not related to the subjective caregiver burden as measured in this study. However, higher “parental consideration” was related to lower burden. And higher “filial obligation” was related to later nursing home admission. In contrast to their non-caring brothers and sisters, the caregivers rated their “early parents” as significantly less controlling and more caring. Both groups differed also with regard to filial maturity. Further research should clarify the role of parental bonding for the development of filial maturity.