Shared Health Behaviors Among Older Mexican American Spouses

• Published in: American journal of health behavior Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 495 - 502
• Main Authors: Stimpson, Jim P., Masel, Meredith C., Rudkin, Laura, Peek, M. Kristen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States PNG Publications 01.09.2006
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcohol Education; Anglo Americans; Blood Pressure; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drinking; Ethnic Groups; Ethnography; Evidence; Family Health - ethnology; Female; Gender Differences; Health Behavior; Health Behavior - ethnology; Health behaviour; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Life Style - ethnology; Literature Reviews; Logistic Models; Male; Marital Status; Marriage; Married couples; Mental Health; Mexican American people; Mexican Americans; Mexican Americans - psychology; Mexican Americans - statistics & numerical data; Minority Groups; Multivariate Analysis; Obesity; Older Adults; Older people; Physical Health; Positive Reinforcement; Scientific Concepts; Spouses; Spouses - ethnology; Spouses - psychology; United States; United States
• ISSN: 1087-3244; 1945-7359
• DOI: 10.5993/AJHB.30.5.6

Objective: To assess the association of health behaviors among husbands and wives. Methods: Cohort study of 553 Mexican American couples aged 65 years or older from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE). Multivariate regression analyses test the association of body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption among husbands and wives. Results: Body mass index is positively associated among couples. Risk of smoking or drinking was higher if the partner had ever smoked or drank alcohol. Conclusion: Health behaviors are associated among older Mexican American couples. Intervention efforts should be directed at both spouses.