title: Age-related differences in biomedical and folk beliefs as causes for diabetes and heart disease among Mexican origin adults.
abstract: An understanding of health beliefs is key to creating culturally appropriate health services for Hispanic populations in the US. In this study we explore age-based variations in causal beliefs for heart disease and diabetes among Mexican origin adults in Houston, TX. This cross-sectional study included 497 adults of Mexican origin. Participants were asked to indicate the importance of biomedically defined and folk illness-related risk factors as causes for heart disease and diabetes. Biomedical risk factors were ranked highest as causes of diabetes and heart disease among all participants. Folk illness-related factors were ranked below biomedical factors as causes of heart disease among all age groups. Susto was ranked above the median as a risk factor for diabetes among older participants. Age-related differences in causal beliefs may have implications for designing culturally appropriate health services, such as tailored diabetes interventions for older Mexican origin adults.
authors: National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, Social and Behavioral Research Branch, Bethesda, MD, USA. apalmquist@elon.edu
authors: Aunchalee E L
authors: AE
authors: Palmquist
authors: Anna V
authors: AV
authors: Wilkinson
authors: Juan-Miguel
authors: JM
authors: Sandoval
authors: Laura M
authors: LM
authors: Koehly
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005495:Folklore; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas; D055815:Young Adult