Care Burden Avoidance Awareness Among the Baby Boomer Generation: A Qualitative Comparison between Japan and the United States

This study explores the concept of "care burden avoidance awareness" among the baby boomer generation in Japan and the United States, focusing on how cultural, familial, and social factors shape their approach to caregiving and end-of-life decisions. Drawing from qualitative interviews, the research highlights how traditional Japanese family systems and the American individual-centered approach impact the formation of attitudes towards caregiving. The study compares how both generations, once caregivers themselves, now confront their own aging and the prospect of becoming care recipients. By examining shared themes such as the desire to avoid burdening family members, this research offers insights into the sociocultural differences in end-of-life decision-making and the emotional and practical challenges faced by aging populations in both countries.