title: Mexican-American cultural meanings, expressions, self-care and dependent-care actions associated with experiences of pain.
abstract: The experience of pain within specific cultural groups has not been well studied. The purpose of this ethnographic study was to discover Mexican-American meanings, expressions, and care associated with pain. Data were obtained from 20 key and 14 general informants and analyzed using thematic and pattern analysis. Themes identified included: pain as encompassing experience of suffering; the obligation to bear pain and to endure it stoically; and the primacy of caring for others. Based on study findings, a beginning description of the cultural context is provided from which pain as experienced by Mexican-Americans can be understood and from which culturally competent nursing care can be designed.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Villarruel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D016746:Transcultural Nursing