AARPSegundaJuventud Self-HelpStudyAmong HispanicsAges40+

Transcription

1 AARPSegundaJuventud Self-HelpStudyAmong HispanicsAges40+ March2008

2 AARP Segunda Juventud Self-Help Study Among Hispanics Ages 40+ Omni Survey fieldwork done by ICR. This summary was prepared by Tracy Needham, Member Value Research, Knowledge Management. For more information or to request additional copies of this summary, please contact Tracy Needham at Xenia Montenegro provided management review.

3 AARP Segunda Juventud Self-Help Study Among Hispanics Ages 40+ Methodology The study was conducted for AARP via telephone by ICR, an independent research company using the Hispanic Excel survey. Interviews were conducted from March 11-24, among a representative sample of 528 Hispanic respondents 40 years of age or older. The margin of error is percent at the 95 percent confidence level. The annotated questionnaire is located at the end of this summary. Unless otherwise noted, the total survey sample size is Hispanics ages 40 and older (n= 528). Executive Summary We wanted to know what kind of self-help or self-improvement activities, if any, Hispanics ages 40 and older had done in the past two years. We found that a majority of Hispanics have tried to eat a healthier diet (78%) or tried to exercise regularly (69%) for self-improvement purposes. Approximately one-third have sought spiritual advice (35%) or used self-improvement books, tapes, or DVDs (30%) for the purpose of selfhelp or self-improvement. One-quarter of our respondents said that they have attended self-help seminars. Table 1 Self-Help or Self-Improvement Activities Activity Tried to eat a healthier diet 78% Tried to exercise regularly 69 Sought spiritual advice 35 Used self-improvement books, tapes, or DVDs 30 Attended seminars 26 Sought professional therapy or counseling 19 Met with a life coach 6 Question: In the past two years, have you done any of the following for the purpose of self-help or self-improvement? Have you? AARP Segunda Juventud Self-Help Study, March

4 We asked those who have done some kind of self-help or self-improvement activities which areas of their life they were hoping to address with their activities. Half told us that they were trying to address their physical health. About one in ten were hoping to improve spirituality or mental health. Table 2 Life Areas Hoping to Improve (N=476) Life Area Physical health 50% Spirituality 12 Mental health 10 Life goals in general/improve any aspect of life 6 To be a better person 5 Leisure time and activities 2 Professional or work-related relationships 2 Relations with family 2 Job or career 1 Personal finances 1 Relations with friends 1 A bad habit such as drinking, drugs, smoking 1 Questions: Which areas of your life were you hoping to address with (this/these) activities? AARP Segunda Juventud Self-Help Study, March

5 Similarly, respondents decided to address these life areas for health issues that they were experiencing themselves. About one-quarter (29%) said that their health was the main reason for seeking self-help or self-improvement. Table 3 Reason for Seeking Self-Help or Self-Improvement (N=476) Reason Health issues (self) 29% A general need 8 A positive motive in general 7 Aging 5 Major life change 5 Health issues (family) 4 To develop potential 4 Self-evaluation in general 3 Advice or encouragement from a family member or friend 2 Financial issues 2 To broaden perspectives 2 Dissatisfaction with job or career 1 Dissatisfaction with relationships 1 Something was missing in life 1 For the family 1 Question: What is the main reason you decided to address (this area/these areas) of your life? Implications A majority of Hispanics ages 40 and older in our survey are concerned about health and have tried to eat healthily and exercise regularly in the past two years for self-help or self-improvement purposes. Another self-help activity is seeking spiritual advice. Historically health and spirituality are two key issues in the Hispanic community and from our survey we can see that some Hispanics ages 40 and older are actively seeking to address and improve these areas of their lives. More education on health issues as one ages is needed and relevant to this population. Also we see that many are seeking self-help and self-improvement in general and could benefit from lists of resources to help them achieve their self-improvement goals. AARP Segunda Juventud Self-Help Study, March

6 Annotated Questionnaire AARP Segunda Juventud Self-Help Study, March

7 Annotated Questionnaire AARP Segunda Juventud Self-Help Study Among Hispanics Ages 40+ The study was conducted for AARP via telephone by ICR, an independent research company. Interviews were conducted March 11 March 24, 2008 among a representative sample of 528 Hispanic respondents 40 years of age or older. The margin of error is +/-4.26% at the 95% confidence level. 1. In the past two years, have you done any of the following for the purpose of self-help or self-improvement? Have you? Yes No DK Refused a. Sought professional therapy or counseling 19% 79% *% 2% b. Used self-improvement books, tapes, or DVDs * 2 c. Attended seminars d. Met with a life coach e. Tried to eat a healthier diet f. Tried to exercise regularly * 2 g. Sought spiritual advice * 2 A * indicates less than one percent. (Asked of total Hispanics age 40+ who have done any specified activities; n = 476) 2. Which areas of your life were you hoping to address with (this/these) activities? Physical health 50% Spirituality 12 Mental health 10 Life goals (general)/improve any aspect of my life 6 Better person/better lifestyle 5 Leisure time/activities 2 Professional/work-related relationships 2 Relations with family 2 Job/career 1 Personal finances 1 Relations with friends 1 Some kind of bad habit in general drinking, drugs, smoking 1 Giving back/volunteering * Organization * Nothing/nothing in particular * Don t know/not sure 14 Other 5 Refused 3 A * indicates less than one percent. AARP Segunda Juventud Self-Help Study, March

8 (Asked of total Hispanics age 40+ who have done any specified activities; n = 476) 3. What is the main reason you decided to address (this area/these areas) of your life? Health issues, illness self 22% Felt a need in general 8 Some other positive motive 7 Health issues in general (including diet and weight) 7 Getting older/aging 5 Major life change such as loss of a loved one, divorce, marriage, birth of child or 5 grandchild, disability, job loss, empty nest, caregiving, retirement Health issues, illness - family member 4 To develop my potential 4 Self-evaluation in general 3 Advice/encouragement from a family member or friend 2 Financial troubles 2 To broaden perspectives 2 Dissatisfaction with job/career 1 Dissatisfaction with relationships 1 Something was missing in my life 1 For the family 1 Long term/past problems in your life * No specific reason * Don t know/not sure 13 Other 10 Refused 7 AARP Segunda Juventud Self-Help Study, March