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Investigations of Latino dementia caregivers have burgeoned, but are limited in their examination of sociocultural factors. This preliminary study examined the interrelationships between acculturation (Latino and Anglo orientations), cultural values (familism, marianism, and fatalism), perceived burden, and depressive symptoms in Latino caregivers of dementia patients. Forty-eight caregivers were interviewed using a survey questionnaire. Results indicated that of the three cultural values, only familism was inversely associated with an Anglo orientation, positively associated with a Latino orientation, and inversely associated with perceived burden, which was positively associated with depressive symptoms. Acculturation and cultural values were not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Findings suggested that acculturation had little influence on perceived burden or depressive symptoms in Latino caregivers, but played a role in the process of caregiving through cultural values such as familism.
Investigaciones de cuidadores latinos de pacientes de demencia se han desarrollado, pero son limitadas en su examinacion de factores socioculturales. Este estudio preliminar examinó las interrelaciones entre la aculturación (Orientacion Anglo y Latino),valores culturales (familismo, marianismo, y el fatalismo), carga percibida, y síntomas depresivos en los cuidadores Latino de pacientes de demencia. Cuarenta y ocho cuidadores fueron entrevistados utilizando una incuesta en forma de cuestionario. Los resultados indicaron que de los très valores culturales, sólo familismo se asoció a lo inverso con la orientación Anglo, positivamente asociado con la orientación Latina, y asociado a lo inverso con carga percibida, que se asoció significativamente con síntomas depresivos. La aculturación y los valores culturales no se asociaron apreciablemente con síntomas depresivos. Los hallazgos sugirieron esa aculturación tuvieron una influencia pequeña en carga percibida o síntomas depresivos en cuidadores Latinos, pero jugaron un papel en el proceso de cuidar por valores culturales tales como familismo.
Keywords: dementia; caregiving; Latino; acculturation; culture; distress
A burgeoning literature has begun to explore the role of ethnicity and acculturation in Latino dementia caregivers (Adams, Aranda, Kemp, & Takagi, 2002; Gallagher-Thompson et al., 2003; Harwood, Barker, et al., 2000a; Harwood, Ownby, Burnett, Barker, & Duara, 2000). However, to date, the empirical investigation of cultural influences and interrelationships between sociocultural factors such as ethnicity, cultural values, and acculturation in Latino dementia caregivers has been very limited. It is important to examine sociocultural factors because they have been neglected in stress and...