A Comparative Evaluation of the Perceptions of Health of Elders of Different Multicultural Backgrounds

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to discover the perceptions of health and the health maintenance practices of 4 different cultural and ethnic groups. Interviews were conducted at senior citizen centers in and around a large metropolitan center in Texas. Five Native Americans, 44 African Americans, 32 Latinos, and 13 Vietnamese were questioned about their views on being healthy. Huff and Kline's Cultural Assessment Framework was used to analyze the responses. Functionality and independence were dominant themes noted in the responses of all participants from all 4 cultural groups.

Conceptions of health: A cross-cultural comparison.

“…They also parallel the work of other scholars in the health conception field who hold the view that culture gives meaning to personal experiences of health and illness (Angel & Thoits, 1987;Hufford, 1992;Kleinman, 1978;Jobanputra & Furnham, 2005;Jovchelovitch & Gervais, 1999;O'Connor, 1998;Torsch & Ma, 2000). The findings of the present study also support the notion that cultural differences exist in the meaning people ascribe to health (Felton et al, 1997;Hakim & Wegmann, 2002;Hjelm et al, 2005;Jobanputra & Furnham, 2005;Torsch & Ma, 2000).…”

“…Interviews followed a structured format, using a predefined set of questions (Appendix A). The questions were adapted from interview questions that have been used in previous studies (Ailinger & Causey, 1995;Ailinger et al, 2007;Hakim & Wegmann, 2002;McMullin, 2005) and were translated in…”

“…Many researchers and theorists have recognized that culture probably influences individuals' perceptions and definitions of health as well as their beliefs about how to maintain or promote their health (Hufford, 1992;Jobanputra & Furnham, 2005;Jovchelovitch & Gervais, 1999;O'Connor, 1998;Torsch & Ma, 2000). Studies examining health conceptions across cultures have found differences in the meaning people of different cultures ascribe to health (e.g., Felton, Parsons, Misener, & Oldaker, 1997;Hakim & Wegmann, 2002;Hjelm, Bard, Nyberg, & Apelqvist, 2005;Jobanputra & Furnham, 2005;Torsch & Ma, 2000). As a result, these researchers have argued that health represents a cultural construct.…”

“…Past studies have shown that members of cultural minorities often report promoting their health by maintaining their traditions and culture (Hakim & Wegmann, 2002;Jan & Smith, 1998;Labun & Emblen, 2007;McMullin, 2005;Van Uchelen et al, 1997). Although this theme was shared by These unique health views articulated outside the boundaries of the individual self by First Nations individuals can be explained by the theory of individualism-collectivism and the self-construal theory (Capstick et al, 2009;McCarthy et al, 2004).…”

The Influence of Cultural Health Beliefs on Self-Reported Mental Health Status and Mental Health Service Utilization in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of Older Adults

“…Several ethnic minorities demonstrate a strong faith in God to heal, believing that God is in control of 6 E. Cole et al their health, instead of the formal medical community (Swinney, 2002). For some African Americans, maintaining health comes from living "good," which includes religious faith, prayer, and church attendance (Hakim & Wegmann, 2002). McAuley, Pecchioni, and Grant (2000) found that, in comparison to European Americans, African Americans more commonly describe particular role expectations for God in health and illness, especially in the healing process.…”