How religiosity shapes health perceptions and behaviors of Latina immigrants: is it an enabling or prohibitive factor?

Abstract

The study examines how religiosity shapes the health perceptions and health-related behaviors of 50 Latina immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Bolivia. Between May and August 2011, focus groups were conducted with participants representing each country of origin. Qualitative content analysis was the analytic strategy adopted in the study. The meta-theme, Religiosity Contributes to Positive Perceptions of Health and Health-Promoting Behaviors, is associated with six emerging themes: (1) Religiosity promotes a sense of personal responsibility for one’s health; (2) Religiosity promotes a holistic view of health; (3) Religiosity promotes the view that health is a priority; (4) Religiosity promotes the view that health enables one to perform necessary tasks; (5) Religiosity promotes health-seeking behavior; and (6) Religiosity provides intrinsic health benefits. Findings do not follow the clear-cut dichotomy of the health locus of control model and challenge simplified notions that Latinas hold a purely external health locus of control toward their health and health care. Latinas rely on both God and themselves in managing their health and engaging in health-promoting actions, which are prompted in large part by their religiosity. Implications for culturally appropriate health communication and interventions are discussed.

Keywords:

• religiosity
• health perceptions
• health behaviors
• health locus of control
• Latina/Hispanic women
• immigrants
• focus groups

Acknowledgments

We thank the participants for sharing their insights with us for this article. We also thank Nallely Mejia who contributed to the data analysis of this article and Eva B. Miller for her contributions to early drafts of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by A Faculty Research Support Grant in 2011–2012 and a Dean’s Summer Research Award in 2012 from American University funded this research.