Simpatia and Negative Interpersonal Emotions in Continuity of Health Care
Past research has demonstrated that continuity of care has positive outcomes for patients. Continuous care has been shown to have positive outcomes for the patient, including increased patient satisfaction, decreased hospitalizations, decreased emergency department visits, and improved receipt of preventive services. Guided by Betancourt’s Integrative Model for the Study of Culture, Psychological Processes, and Health Behaviors, the aim of this research was to examine the role of cultural scripts and mistreatment related negative interpersonal emotions on continuity of care among Latin American (Latino) and Non-Latino White (Anglo) women. Specifically, this study examined the effect of simpatía, a cultural script that is common among Latinos that stresses interpersonal harmony and interaction-related personal characteristics (e.g. being likeable, agreeable, and easy going) on negative emotions associated with healthcare mistreatment, and their combined effects on continuity of care. As hypothesized, mistreatment-related negative emotions negatively impacted continuity of care for both Latino and Anglo women. In addition, consistent with the cultural script, the study found that for Latino women simpatía was negatively associated with reported mistreatment related emotions, which was not the case for Anglo women.
Clinical Psychology, Medicine and Health Sciences, Psychology, Continuity of Patient Care; Attitude of Health Personnel; Health Behavior; Professional-Patient Relations; Process Assessment (Health Care), Latin American Women, Latino Women, Non-Latino Women, Anglo Women, Simpatia, Cultural Script, Healthcare Mistreatment
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