Simpatia and Perceptions of Healthcare Mistreatment among Latino and Anglo Women

Past research has examined perceptions of mistreatment in the context of healthcare professional-patient relationships, but the majority of the literature has focused primarily on racial and ethnic differences. Guided by Betancourt's Model for the Study of Culture, the aim of this research was to examine the role of culture and its association with perceptions of healthcare mistreatment among Latino and Anglo women. Specifically, this study investigated ethnic differences in perceptions of healthcare mistreatment through the investigation of simpatia, a cultural script that stresses interpersonal harmony and personal characteristics such as being likeable and easy going. The study also found ethnic differences in the level of reported simpatia between Latino and Anglo participants. The study found that simpatia was related to specific instances of mistreatment, in that Simpatia was positively correlated with communication related instances of mistreatment for Anglos and negatively correlated for Latinos. This study could inform healthcare interactions and provide a better understanding for healthcare providers researching appropriate ways of communicating with their patients.