Reciprocity organized towards caring for health: An examination of low-income young men's relationships with their families

The experiences of low-income young men are largely absent from the growing body of health disparities research despite their having an elevated risk for acute health issues (Marcell et al., 2006; Park et al., 2006). Prior studies suggest that the utilization of social capital may help explain the enactment of health behaviors (Furstenberg,2005; Lindstrom & Hanson, 2001) but have yet to examine the mechanisms by which young men provide as well as receive care and support from their family networks in low-income communities. Using life history interviews, we recruited low-income young men from two youth development programs in the Mid-Atlantic region (n = 40; 57.5% African American, 42.5% Latino; mean age = 19.5 years, range =17-19) to explore how young men and their families mutually promote health, sharing health knowledge, and providing care. Data analysis through grounded theory suggests that young men and their families negotiate reciprocal relationships that draw on their collective resources, including time, access to finances, care for children and elders, as well as health literacy. Developing over time, these complimentary relationships obligated young men to support the physical and mental health of family members, which often had significant implications for their engagement in work and school. This understanding of reciprocity among in low-income families can help inform policy and programs, particularly those aiming to facilitate access to health care resources in these communities.