Collective Worldviews and Health of Pacific American Elders

Abstract

The community as part of the social environment is a key social determinant of health and is a central organizing feature of Pacific culture. A collective worldview informs the way social support is conceived in Pacific cultures, and it is core to Samoan and Tongan elders’ perceptions of the influence of community on health and well-being. In turn, inability to fulfill community responsibilities may be an indication of poor health and well-being and may be distressful because of this collective worldview. Using principles of grounded theory that informed the data collection and analysis, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 Samoan and 10 Tongan elders in Hawai'i, the port of entry for most Pacific Americans migrating to the U.S. and the location where the majority of Samoans and Tongans reside. Four main themes—community norms, social functions of community, community capacity, and negative community influences—were identified as community factors affecting the health and well-being of Samoan and Tongan elders. Implications for research and policy practice are offered.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by a George Mason University Faculty Research Seed Grant and funding from the College of Health and Human Services awarded to Halaevalu F. O. Vakalahi.

The authors thank the Samoan and Tongan elders in Hawai'i for their willingness to share their stories and views about their families, communities, and health and well-being.