Navigating Care and Self-Care: Understanding Latina Caregivers' Prioritization and Engagement in Self-Care Practices.
Denise A Longoria, John M Gonzalez, Romeo Escobar and 1 others
PMID 41689842WHAT IT FOUND
Latina women caregivers said family duty and guilt often put caregiving ahead of self-care.
They still used short routines like walking, music, journaling, faith, and friends, but respite was rare unless family could take over.
Key findings
01Participants consistently placed caregiving above their own well-being, often declining respite because of duty and cultural obligation.
02They described feeling isolated and unsupported, with family members often not helping with caregiving or respite.
03Self-care strategies included scheduled respite, creative expression such as music, journaling, gardening, and walking, and support from friends or religious groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
All participants were from South Texas and spoke English, Spanish, or both, so findings may not apply to Latina caregivers elsewhere. The sample was purposive and small, with 32 women, so it cannot show how common these experiences are among all Latina caregivers. Attendance was not confirmed, and focus group interaction may have shaped what participants said. The paper describes perceptions and strategies, not tested interventions or health outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest and received no financial support. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Social Work is named as funder.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that Latina caregivers do not practice self-care. They described using walking, music, journaling, gardening, reading, yoga, prayer, and support from friends or religious groups. The finding is that these practices were often brief and infrequent because respite and family support were limited.