Instrumental activities of daily living disability among community-dwelling Mexican American and non-Hispanic White older adults

The aging Hispanic population often reports higher instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disability than non-Hispanic White older adults, however few studies have focused on Mexican American older adults, the largest Hispanic subgroup in the United States. Psychosocial factors were examined for associations with reported IADL disability among a sample of 208 Mexican American and non-Hispanic White older adults recruited from four outpatient clinics in the metropolitan area of San Antonio, Texas. Individuals over 60 years of age scoring 18 or higher on a Mini Mental State Examination were administered a questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics as well as measures of end of life treatment preference, depressive symptomology, religiosity, self-reported health, and acculturation. Univariate screening was utilized to identify factors associated with IADL. Full sample logistic regression analysis controlling for ethnicity and health status revealed statistically significant associations between the variables of age, depression, and socioeconomic status with IADL disability. Older participants and participants that reported greater depressive symptomology were more likely to report needing assistance in one or more area of daily life. Higher educated individuals were less likely to report needing assistance in one or more area of daily life. Ethnicity and desire for aggressive care were not significant predictors of IADL disability. For Mexican American participants, greater acculturation was associated with less IADL difficulty. Findings suggest that socio-economic status and aging may be better predictors of IADL disability than ethnicity per se.