Shared health behaviors among older Mexican American spouses

Am J Health Behav. 2006 Sep-Oct;30(5):495-502. doi: 10.5555/ajhb.2006.30.5.495.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association of health behaviors among husbands and wives.

Methods: Cohort study of 553 Mexican American couples aged 65 years or older from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE). Multivariate regression analyses test the association of body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption among husbands and wives.

Results: Body mass index is positively associated among couples. Risk of smoking or drinking was higher if the partner had ever smoked or drank alcohol.

Conclusion: Health behaviors are associated among older Mexican American couples. Intervention efforts should be directed at both spouses.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood Pressure
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Family Health / ethnology*
  • Female
  • Health Behavior / ethnology*
  • Humans
  • Life Style / ethnology*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Mexican Americans / psychology*
  • Mexican Americans / statistics & numerical data
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Spouses / ethnology
  • Spouses / psychology*
  • United States