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Older Hispanics Explanatory Model of Depression

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Date Issued:
2013
Summary:
Researchers have reported a high prevalence of depression among older Hispanics in the United States when compared to other ethnic groups. Cultural variations in the perception of depression sometimes make it difficult to recognize the disorder resulting in older Hispanic patients not being diagnosed and not receiving appropriate treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore older Hispanics’ explanatory model of depression and identify culture-specific factors that may help in the recognition and treatment of depression. A mixed-method design that combined qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Fifty participants were interviewed using Kleinman’s Explanatory Models ethnographic approach with a vignette variation, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Cross Cultural Measure of Acculturation (CCMA). The findings suggest that this group of older Hispanics did not recognize depression as an illness but rather as the result of life stressors and personal weaknesses. People who experience depressive symptoms were described as being crazy, bored, worried, or having a problem of the nerves. These culturally coded terms may confound diagnosis among many Hispanics who find depression an unacceptable and shameful condition. This cultural pattern seemed to prevail among low and high-acculturated individuals which may complicate the diagnosis of depression by health care providers. This study highlights the complexity and diversity of this group of older Hispanics’ conceptual model of depression. The results of this study will contribute to nursing care by providing additional information that will help professionals when working with Hispanic patients with depression. Findings expand our understanding of older Hispanics (high and low-acculturated, depressed and non-depressed) groups’ conceptualization of depression and can be used to inform the adaptation of culturally relevant approaches to better serve the Hispanic community in this country.
Title: Older Hispanics Explanatory Model of Depression.
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Name(s): Sadule-rios, Nohemi, author
Tappen, Ruth M., Thesis advisor
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: single unit
Date Created: Fall 2013
Date Issued: 2013
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Physical Form: Online Resource
Extent: 140 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Researchers have reported a high prevalence of depression among older Hispanics in the United States when compared to other ethnic groups. Cultural variations in the perception of depression sometimes make it difficult to recognize the disorder resulting in older Hispanic patients not being diagnosed and not receiving appropriate treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore older Hispanics’ explanatory model of depression and identify culture-specific factors that may help in the recognition and treatment of depression. A mixed-method design that combined qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Fifty participants were interviewed using Kleinman’s Explanatory Models ethnographic approach with a vignette variation, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Cross Cultural Measure of Acculturation (CCMA). The findings suggest that this group of older Hispanics did not recognize depression as an illness but rather as the result of life stressors and personal weaknesses. People who experience depressive symptoms were described as being crazy, bored, worried, or having a problem of the nerves. These culturally coded terms may confound diagnosis among many Hispanics who find depression an unacceptable and shameful condition. This cultural pattern seemed to prevail among low and high-acculturated individuals which may complicate the diagnosis of depression by health care providers. This study highlights the complexity and diversity of this group of older Hispanics’ conceptual model of depression. The results of this study will contribute to nursing care by providing additional information that will help professionals when working with Hispanic patients with depression. Findings expand our understanding of older Hispanics (high and low-acculturated, depressed and non-depressed) groups’ conceptualization of depression and can be used to inform the adaptation of culturally relevant approaches to better serve the Hispanic community in this country.
Identifier: FA0004055 (IID)
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013.
Subject(s): Depression in old age
Ethnopsychology
Hispanic Americans -- Mental health
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library
Sublocation: Boca Raton, Fla.
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0004055
Restrictions on Access: All rights reserved by the source institution
Restrictions on Access: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU