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Older adults' concerns about cognitive health: commonalities and differences among six United States ethnic groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2011

JAMES N. LADITKA ,
SARAH B. LADITKA ,
RUI LIU ,
ANNA E. PRICE ,
BEI WU ,
DANIELA B. FRIEDMAN ,
SARA J. CORWIN ,
JOSEPH R. SHARKEY ,
WINSTON TSENG  and
REBECCA HUNTER
...Show all authors
JAMES N. LADITKA*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA.
SARAH B. LADITKA
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA.
RUI LIU
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
ANNA E. PRICE
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Exercise Science, Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
BEI WU
Affiliation:
Gerontology Program, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA.
DANIELA B. FRIEDMAN
Affiliation:
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behaviour, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
SARA J. CORWIN
Affiliation:
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behaviour, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
JOSEPH R. SHARKEY
Affiliation:
Texas Healthy Aging Research Network Collaborating Center (TxHAN) at the School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, USA.
WINSTON TSENG
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
REBECCA HUNTER
Affiliation:
Carolina Geriatric Education Centre, and Centre for Ageing and Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
REBECCA G. LOGSDON
Affiliation:
Psychosocial and Community Health, University of Washington School of Nursing, Seattle, USA.
*
Address for correspondence: James N. Laditka, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

We studied concerns about cognitive health among ethnically diverse groups of older adults. The study was grounded in theories of health behaviour and the representation of health and illness. We conducted 42 focus groups (N=396, ages 50+) in four languages, with African Americans, American Indians, Chinese Americans, Latinos, Whites other than Latinos (hereafter, Whites) and Vietnamese Americans, in nine United States locations. Participants discussed concerns about keeping their memory or ability to think as they age. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. Constant comparison methods identified themes. In findings, all ethnic groups expressed concern and fear about memory loss, losing independence, and becoming ‘a burden’. Knowing someone with Alzheimer's disease increased concern. American Indians, Chinese Americans, Latinos and Vietnamese Americans expected memory loss. American Indians, Chinese Americans and Vietnamese Americans were concerned about stigma associated with Alzheimer's disease. Only African Americans, Chinese and Whites expressed concern about genetic risks. Only African Americans and Whites expressed concern about behaviour changes. Although we asked participants for their thoughts about their ability to think as they age, they focused almost exclusively on memory. This suggests that health education promoting cognitive health should focus on memory, but should also educate the public about the importance of maintaining all aspects of cognitive health.

Keywords

cognitionageingAlzheimer's diseasedementiamemoryqualitative researchfocus groupsbrain health
Type
Submitted Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 31 , Issue 7: Rethinking Theoretical and Methodological Issues in Intergenerational Family Relations Research , October 2011 , pp. 1202 - 1228
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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