Adaptation of Hispanic families to a member with mental retardation

Abstract

Adaptation of Hispanic (n = 51) and non-Hispanic (n = 195) white families to having a member with mental retardation was examined using surveys and interviews. We compared these families' demographic characteristics, religious values, and support resources and examined how these factors differentially affected caregiving burden for each group. Surveys and interviews were collected from 51 Hispanic and 195 non-Hispanic white families. Findings indicated that Hispanic families differed from the other families in SES, age of the person with mental retardation, religious values, and in their perceived burden of caring for a family member with mental retardation. Patterns of determinants of caregiving burden did not differ significantly for the two groups.