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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Jan Warren-Findlow, PhD, Department of Health Behavior and Administration, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Barnard #220, Charlotte, NC 28223, 704/687-6191, jwarren1@uncc.edu

Social support has been beneficially associated with morbidity and mortality outcomes in older adults. Definitions of social support are varied and contextual, and encompass both positive and negative effects on health outcomes. This paper examines the relationship between the social support that families provide and the self-care practices of older African American women living with multiple chronic illnesses. Twelve women with non-obstructive coronary artery disease were recruited by cardiologists. Women were between the ages of 50-73 and were generally of low socioeconomic status. Multiple in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted to elicit women's explanatory models of heart disease and a description of their self-care practices. All women had additional chronic illnesses including: diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, asthma, sleep apnea and obesity. Women engaged in a variety of self-care practices such as physician-prescribed treatments (following medication regimens, quitting smoking or engaging in physical activity), cultural coping to manage stress, and numerous daily health-related activities that required constant decision-making about symptoms and treatment. Family members provided housing, financial support, and to a lesser extent, emotional support. Women described receiving instrumental support in the form of transportation for shopping, to church and to medical appointments. However, living with family members often posed significant barriers to changing lifestyle behaviors – some realized by participants and some not. Support was reciprocal with one fourth of women providing primary caregiving for grandchildren and other women also providing daycare and babysitting as needed. Implications for providers and public health practitioners working to increase adherence to self-care regimens will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, audience members will be able to

• describe the characteristics of African American family and kinship support networks
• identify the various types of social support that older African American women receive from family members
• articulate the barriers faced by older African American women who are trying to make lifestyle behavior changes within the context of their family

Keywords: African American, Chronic Illness

Awards: Betty J. Cleckley Minority Issues Research Award - Recipient

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation