This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McDonald, P. E. Articles by Wykle, M. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McDonald, P. E. Articles by Wykle, M. L. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Self-Reported Health-Promoting Behaviors of Black and White Caregivers

Case Western Reserve University

Sue V. Fink

University of Michigan School of Nursing

May L. Wykle

Case Western Reserve University, University Center on Aging and Health

The purpose of this study was to describe the behaviors that caregivers report carrying out to maintain their own health, and to compare the health-promoting behaviors of Black and White caregivers. Although many studies have examined health-promoting behaviors, few have examined health promotion among caregivers. Reported studies of caregivers’ health-promoting behaviors have not compared cultural groups. The sample for this study was selected by random digit dialing, and included 136 Black and 257 White caregivers of frail elders. Content analysis of respondents’ answers to the open-ended question, "In general, what do you do to stay healthy?" was used to address the research questions. Most caregivers reported specific behaviors they engaged in for the purpose of staying healthy. Although most of their behaviors addressed physical health, caregivers also mentioned behaviors that contribute to mental and spiritual health. Both differences and similarities were found in Black and White caregivers’ self-reported health behaviors, which have important implications for nursing practice and research in the future.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y.-F. Y. Lu and M. Wykle Relationships Between Caregiver Stress and Self-Care Behaviors in Response to Symptoms Clin Nurs Res, February 1, 2007; 16(1): 29 - 43. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Y. Yueh-Feng Lu and M. G. Austrom Distress Responses and Self-Care Behaviors in Dementia Family Caregivers With High and Low Depressed Mood Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, August 1, 2005; 11(4): 231 - 240. [Abstract] [PDF]