A comparison of Hispanic and Anglo female caregivers mid-life health behaviors

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to compare and contrast the health promotion behaviors that 35- to 64-year-old Anglo-American and Mexican-American female caregivers utilize to maintain their wellness. A comparative descriptive design was used for a secondary analysis of data obtained from a larger study of caregiver-elder relationships (N = 249) (Phillips, Torres De Ardon, Komnenich, Killeen, & Rusinak, 1996). This secondary study used content analysis to sort and examine responses of female caregivers to an open-ended question about their health promotion behaviors. The subjects for this secondary analysis (n = 60) were selected utilizing a table of random numbers. All the subjects were female caregivers between the ages of 35 and 64. Thirty Mexican-Americans and 30 Anglo-Americans residing in Arizona were included in the research sample. This research has practice implications for nurses supporting and educating caregivers.