Depression in Family Caregivers of Mexican Descent: Exacerbated by Stress and Mitigated by Mutuality.

Despite common assumptions that non-paid family caregivers of Mexican descent benefit spiritually from their roles according to cultural familistic norms, there is also evidence of caregiver stress resulting in depression. Depression has the potential to seriously affect caregivers' health and their ability to continue to provide care. The current study's purpose was to examine the relationships among depression, stress, and mutuality (i.e., the quality of the caregiver-care recipient relationship) (N = 74 caregivers of Mexican descent in the southwestern United States). Multiple regression models and exploratory mediational analyses indicated that the stress-depression relationship can be significantly mediated by mutuality. Results support culturally appropriate interventions to decrease caregiver stress and depression by promoting mutuality. In addition, with changing trends in outside work roles and mobility of caregivers of Mexican descent, policy should make services truly accessible to support caregiving families of Mexican descent. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2017; 10(3):106-113.].

A Pilot, Web-Based HIV/STI Prevention Intervention Targeting At-Risk Mexican American Adolescents: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Lessons Learned.

Information technology provides new avenues to increase opportunities to deliver HIV/STI prevention interventions in a confidential, sensitive, and engaging manner for youth. While technology-based HIV/STI interventions show promise in preventing HIV/STI among different populations, few have targeted young Latinas. This pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a bilingual, web-based HIV/STI prevention intervention among Latino females aged 15-19. We used a mix-method approach, including a prospective 2-group design with 3 repeated measures, and a post-intervention focus group discussion. We recruited 14 participants from an alternative high school and randomized into each study condition. Participants took 5 structurally equivalent modules focusing on either HIV/STI prevention (intervention) or nutrition/exercise (comparison) and completed assessments before the intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 2 months post-intervention. The findings suggested that the intervention had high levels of feasibility and acceptability. We discuss the keys to success, challenges encountered, and future directions.

Knowledge and Beliefs Regarding Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Mexican-Heritage Latinas.

BACKGROUND: Lower participation rates in mammography and Papanicolaou test are common among Latinas compared with other ethnic groups. Suboptimal screening rates are attributed to lack of knowledge, access to services, and cultural influences. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to qualitatively examine an alternative framework for examining cultural influences on Mexican-heritage Latinas' understandings of breast and cervical cancer screening and how to leverage their beliefs to positively influence screening practices. METHODS: The study is based on the analysis of 4 focus groups with 47 Latinas residing in greater Phoenix, Arizona. RESULTS: Iterative qualitative analyses identified 5 major themes: (1) knowledge and beliefs about cancer cause and risk in general, (2) knowledge and beliefs specific to breast and cervical cancer screening, (3) experiences with breast and cervical cancer screening, (4) facilitators and barriers to breast and cervical screening, and (5) desired information about cancer and screening. CONCLUSIONS: Rather than focusing on Latinas' knowledge and/or misconceptions of breast and cervical cancer in screening-related education, researchers must examine what Latinas believe and leverage those convictions to expand their perceptions and behaviors related to breast and cervical cancer prevention practices. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Practitioners should recognize that Latinas may differ in beliefs from other minorities, and that even within-group, there may be cultural differences that influence cancer screening behaviors.

A framework for studying minority youths' transitions to fatherhood: the case of Puerto Rican adolescents.

A theoretical framework is proposed for studying minority young men's involvement with their babies that combines the integrative model of minority youth development and a life course developmental perspective with Lamb's revised four-factor model of father involvement. This framework posits a relationship between demographic and family background variables (such as education, employment, income, and family of origin) and fatherhood outcomes moderated by personal characteristics (such as sex-role ideology, acculturation, risk taking, and alienation) and mediated by definitions of fatherhood, life priorities normative for the culture under study, and sexual behavior. Once there is an acknowledged infant, a father's involvement is influenced by child characteristics, perceived fathering competence, social support, and quality of the relationship with the mother.