ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to examine the health conceptions, family health work, and health-promoting lifestyle of Latin American Mennonite families. Latin American Mennonite families have a unique history and culture that is poorly understood. Little is known about how these families understand and promote their health.
The Developmental Health Model (DHM) provided the framework for examining the variables in this study. In the model, it is proposed that health is a characteristic of the family, which is learned within the social context of the family (Kravitz & Frey, 1989). Health work is the process by which families develop health (Ford-Gilboe & Spence Laschinger, 1995). The degree to which families engage in health work is influenced by their health potential (Ford-Gilboe & Spence Laschinger, 1995). Health potential consists of the family's strengths, motivations, and resources. Health-promoting lifesyle behaviours are one outcome of health work. In this study, health conception was seen as a motivational factor affecting family health promotion (health work) that results in healthy outcomes (health-promoting lifestyle practices).
A convenience sample of 36 mothers of Latin American Mennonite families living in Southwestern Ontario participated in structured interviews during which the Health Options Scale (HOS), a measure of family participation in health work (Ford-Gilboe, 1994a), the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (Pender, 1996), a measure of health lifestyle practices, and a demographic questionnaire were administered. One open-ended question was used to elicit mother's personal meanings of health. A subsample of 6 mothers participated in a second, semi-structured interview during which more in-depth descriptions of their meanings of health and health promotion practices were sought.
Latin American Mennonite mothers in this study were found to hold multidimensional conceptions of health consisting of spiritual, mental, and physical health components. Consistent with theoretical expectations, health work was moderately correlated with health-promoting lifestyle practices. No significant relationships were found between health conception and either health work or health-promoting lifestyle practices. Length of time resident in Canada, length of time of current marital status, and family income were the only demographic variables related to any of the main study variables.
This study contributes to the evolving knowledge base of culture and family health promotion and provides support for the validity of the Developmental Health Model, within a religion-based culture. The results of this study contribute to understanding the health beliefs and practices of Latin American Mennonites in Southwestern Ontario. Study findings provide direction for future theory refinement and testing and for the development and implementation of interventions which may enhance health-promoting lifesyle practices of Latin American Mennonite families.