Social and Cultural Factors, Self-efficacy, and Health in Latino Cancer Caregivers

Background Latino cancer caregivers are at risk of physical, mental, and emotional health issues. Sociocultural factors such as informational support, Anglo orientation, and spiritual practice may compound or protect against these risks. Objective The purpose of this research project was to examine self-efficacy as a mediator between sociocultural factors and health outcomes in Latino cancer caregivers. Methods This is a secondary analysis of baseline caregiver data from an experimental study testing two psychoeducational interventions in Latina individuals with breast cancer and their caregivers. Caregivers (N = 233) completed items assessing self-efficacy, informational support, Anglo orientation, spiritual practice, depression, and global health. Caregiver data were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression and mediation analysis. Results Spiritual well-being was not significantly associated with health outcomes or self-efficacy. In regression analysis, both informational support (b = 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20 to 0.45; P <.001) and Anglo orientation (b = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.11 to 2.48; P <.05) were significant predictors of global health, but informational support (b = -0.43; 95% CI, -0.55 to -0.30; P <.001) was the only significant predictor of depression. There were indirect relationships through self-efficacy for symptom management for both informational support and Anglo orientation and health outcomes. Conclusions Informational support and Anglo orientation were significantly related to health outcomes directly and indirectly through self-efficacy in Latino cancer caregivers. Implications for Practice Informational support through the health system and community, when provided with attention to culture and Spanish language translation, can increase Latino cancer caregivers' self-efficacy to care for themselves and improve health outcomes.