The Relevance of Familism in Cross-Cultural Studies of Family Caregiving

Although familism has been studied in both Mexican American and Anglo families, there is controversy about whether familism in both groups is the same. Research has shown great within-group variability, and in addition, the kinship structure in the two groups is fundamentally different. This article explores the cross-cultural issues in conceptualizing familism and its relevance to caregiving among Anglo and Mexican American caregivers. Based on data obtained in an ongoing research program, the process of arriving at similarities and differences in the expression of familism is discussed using Berry's criteria for achieving cultural equivalence.