"My problems aren't their fault": Mexican American women managing diabetes while caring for grandchildren. (2nd November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rascón, Aliria Muñoz; McEwen, Marylyn M.; Crist, Janice D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of women & aging. Volume 34:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 745
• Page End: 756
• Publication Date: 2022-11-02
• Subjects: Diabetes mellitus -- type 2 -- grandparents -- Mexican Americans -- caregivers -- intergenerational relations; Social work with older people -- United States -- Periodicals; Social work with women -- United States -- Periodicals; Older women -- United States -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2021.1969861
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-2841

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Diabetes affects many aspects of family life for the Mexican American (MA) population. Caregiving grandmothers, the traditional family nurturers, are often simultaneously managing their type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe the perceptions of MA grandmothers managing T2DM while caring for a grandchild. Eight participants were interviewed. Participants consistently reported feeling a personal responsibility for their T2DM self-management as well as for the health and wellbeing of their families, including their grandchildren. Regardless of associated caregiving stress, grandchildren were described as the main source of positive motivation for T2DM self-management.