Cultural Mechanisms in the Exchange of Social Support Among Puerto Ricans After a Natural Disaster

    Authors

    F. I. Rivera

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Qual. Health Res.

    Keywords

    culture / cultural competence; health seeking; Latino/Hispanic people; social support; MENTAL-HEALTH; UNITED-STATES; HELP-SEEKING; ETHNICITY; DISTRESS; SEPTEMBER-11; RESOURCES; HISPANICS; COMMUNITY; SURVIVORS; Health Policy & Services

    Abstract

    In this study, I uncovered the dynamics involved in the exchange (or lack) of social support among a group of Puerto Ricans who experienced a natural disaster. I coded and analyzed 12 semistructured qualitative interviews. My analysis of the interviews revealed that a reported high degree of need was not associated with any type of help seeking from the respondents' social support networks. Relevant issues that arose in explaining the lack of social support exchanges were level of comfort in help seeking and cultural issues. My findings point to the importance of culture in shaping patterns of help-seeking behavior in the aftermath of a disaster. Two of the most salient cultural explanations as to why disaster victims were reluctant to ask for help from family and friends were the issues of confianza (trust) and pena (embarrassment). I discuss the results with reference to how they might help in planning and establishing programs to maximize help seeking among Latinos/as in an emergency situation.

    Journal Title

    Qualitative Health Research

    Volume

    22

    Issue/Number

    6

    Publication Date

    1-1-2012

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    801

    Last Page

    809

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000303447500007

    ISSN

    1049-7323

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