# OLDER MEXICAN AMERICANS--SOCIAL SUPPORT & HEALTH CARE US

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 1993 · $300,906

## Abstract

The specific aim of this research is to conduct a longitudinal comparative
study of the ways in which social networks and social support systems
(informal network) inhibit, moderate, or facilitate the utilization of
health care and social services (formal network) among elderly
Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites, by examining: the role of
family, friends and other community networks; institutional and cultural
barriers; knowledge and information about health care and social services;
and need for health care and social services, among a population varying in
levels of acculturation and socioeconomic status (SES), as well as
differences in age cohorts and gender.  The overall purpose of this
research is to examine how social networks and social supports enhance the
functioning and independence of the elder to maintain him/her in the
community.

A community-based comparative three-wave panel survey of the use of
informal and formal networks and how they change over time as individual
need changes among the older Mexican American population of Los Angeles
County is proposed.  Approximately 1000 respondents (700 Mexican-Americans
and 300 non-Hispanic whites) aged 65+ will be interviewed face-to-face at
three intervals, approximately one year apart.  Interviews will encompass
the following domains: contextual (acculturation, SES, gender, age, and
other background variables), service indicators (need for health care and
social services, knowledge and information, barriers), moderators (social
networks and social support) and utilization and outcome (health care and
social service use).  The overall research methodology will employ a
blended methodology of focus groups, structured interviews, and case
studies.

Data analysis is directed at both descriptive and explanatory objectives.
Descriptive analyses include: frequency distributions and transformations
to improve these distributions as necessary; comparisons of sample
characteristics to those of population to assess representation;
calculation of levels of key variables for the entire sample and the sub-
groups etc.  Explanatory analyses will include confirmatory factor
analysis, latent variable causal models and stratified causal and linear
models.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3122896
- **Project number:** 5R01AG010936-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **SAM.gov UEI:** RN64EPNH8JC6
- **Principal Investigator:** ROSINA M BECERRA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $300,906
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1992-09-30 → 1996-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3122896

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3122896, OLDER MEXICAN AMERICANS--SOCIAL SUPPORT & HEALTH CARE US (5R01AG010936-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3122896. Licensed CC0.

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