The Life-Course Perspectives of Mexican American Men With Mobility Limitation

Abstract

The life-history narratives of 10 Mexican American men with mobility limitations, age 55–77 years (mean = 63.8, SD = 5.8), were explored using a qualitatively driven, life-history mixed-methods study to understand perceptions of mobility limitations over the life course. Within that methodological and paradigmatic framework, conceptualizations of alterity and masculinity guided interpretation of data. Through an iterative, thematic analysis, we detail the way the men’s lives were influenced by growing familial responsibility with age. Quantitative data were integrated into themes of narrative inheritance, family, and masculinity. It was posited that masculinity with mobility limitations shaped and was shaped by ethnic identity and responsibility. This has implications for understanding the experience of Mexican American men over the life course.

Mixed-Methods Study of Disability Self-Management in Mexican Americans With Osteoarthritis

“…A positive correlation between disability and disability self-management would be a positive indicator that teaching disability self-management to stay in social roles may be beneficial, particularly considering the correlation between disability and social support; this is worth exploring in larger samples. Given findings in MA women (Harrison, 2011) and men (Harrison, Taylor et al, 2023) with age, future interventions may test associations between disability self-management, social support, inflammation, and disability.…”

“…Personal care help, built environments, accommodations, and mechanically engineered body parts can eliminate, reduce, or create barriers. When, for instance, an MA man described fishing deep in the ocean as a gendered role that was no longer possible (Harrison, Taylor, et al, 2023), he was, by his estimation, disabled. The following is an example of barriers: I didn't think I could make that step with the pain andand then, I didn't think I could walk around the car.…”

“…People with disabling conditions are known to benefit from nonpharmaceutical, selective self-management interventions, including exercise for people with multiple sclerosis (Stuifbergen et al, 2016), behavioral/psychological strategies in spinal cord injury (McIntyre et al, 2020), and lifestyle for OA (Ginnerup-Nielsen et al, 2019). Although Barlow et al (2002) and Lorig et al (1993) describe self-management as an individual process of monitoring lifestyle in collaboration with knowledgeable others, it is the family of the MA individual who has primary influence in the context of disability (Harrison, 2009b; Harrison, Taylor, et al, 2023). That is, although the individual may be the focus of medical intervention, the family functions as a system, enabling the individual with a disability to monitor psychological, emotional, and biobehavioral aspects of disability and engendering the best function necessary for a high-quality life (Harrison, 2009a; Harrison, Blozis, et al, 2023).…”

“…Hispanics with OA report severe limitations, levels of which are significantly worse among those who are fluent in Spanish only (Reyes & Katz, 2021). Among aging Mexican Americans (MA), the burden of OA can lead to disability, for example, loss of social role performance, accompanied by loss of function, depression, and pain (Harrison, Taylor, et al, 2023). Typical strategies for chronic disease self-management, although helpful in the context of chronic disease (Bhattacharya, 2012), are inconsistently effective in managing disability (e.g., social role performance) and function (movement and activities of the body) among people with OA (Lorig et al, 1993).…”

“…The current study aimed to theoretically synthesize and expand the literature with empirical evidence into a concept and measure of disability self-management in MA with OA-related mobility limitations within the context of their life course disability experiences (Harrison, 2009b; Harrison, Taylor, et al, 2023). Building on a previous 4-year ethnographic study of disability-related health disparities in MAs with functional limitations (Harrison et al, 2008) and/or disability (Harrison, Blozis, et al, 2023), we included family self-management (Ryan & Sawin, 2009) for the purpose of synthesizing evidence into a disability self-management measurement tool specifically for this population.…”