PERCEIVED HEALTH STATUS AND HEALTH PROMOTION BEHAVIORS IN BLACK AND WHITE INFORMAL CAREGIVERS OF IMPAIRED ELDERS (OHIO).
Contributors: Case Western Reserve University.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 192
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Health.; Psychology, Behavioral.; Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies.
Description: Caregiver health and its consequences are a major concern for nursing. Many studies have examined health promoting behaviors (Walker, Volkan, Sechrist & Pender, 1988; Duffy, 1993), but few studies exist on health promotion of caregivers. This study examined the effects of age, gender, race, and length of caregiving on perceived health status and health promotion behaviors in Black and White informal caregivers of impaired elders.

The research design was secondary analysis of an existing data set, based on a conceptual mode linking perceived health status and health promoting behaviors. A sample of 136 Black and 259 White caregivers was recruited from Northeastern Ohio through random digit dialing, who were subsequently interviewed face to face. Eligibility criteria were English speaking caregivers, who provided unpaid assistance or care, for a minimum of five hours a week, to an impaired older person 60 years of age or older living in the community. The adequacy and integrity of the original data set was determined and the data were valid. Test-retest reliability was established for the seven-item Health Promoting Behaviors questionnaire and the open-ended question, "In general, what do you do to stay healthy?" based on a two-to-four week interval for data collection. Data were analyzed using t-tests and multiple regression analysis. The open-ended question was answered using content analysis.

The major findings in this study were: (1) there was no difference in perceived health status in the two racial groups; (2) most caregivers in the study rated their health as good; (3) the total number of health promoting behaviors were significantly different, with Whites reporting a higher frequency; (4) the overall fit of the conceptual model was significant, and a significant relationship was found between perceived health status and health promoting behaviors of caregivers; (5) caregivers were interested in their health, as evidenced by self report; and (6) the view that accepted racial categories of 'Black' and 'White' have no culture salience was supported. A lack of significance between Black and White caregivers in perceived health status was an unexpected finding. Yet, White caregivers participated in more health promoting behaviors than Black caregivers, suggesting small variability in perceived health status. Or, there are other factors that influenced this result.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-11, Section: B, page: 6037.

Thesis (PH.D.)--CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, 1995.

School code: 0042.