African American Baptist Adults: The Degree To Which Selected Social And Cultural Variables Influence The Execution Of Advance Directives

Abstract

The purpose of this research study was to investigate the degree to which selected demographic, social and cultural variables influence the execution of advance directives amongst African American Baptist adults. Research hypotheses were: (1) There is an association between gender, age, educational status, socio-economic status, marital status, family composition, employment status, racism, and the degree to which African American Baptist adults execute advance directives; (2) There is an association between gender, age, educational status, socio-economic status, marital status, family composition, employment status, cultural mistrust, and the degree to which African American Baptist adults execute advance directives; (3) There is an association between gender, age, educational status, socio-economic status, marital status, family composition, employment status, spirituality, and the degree to which African American Baptist adults execute advance directives; (4) There is an association between gender, age, educational status, socio-economic status, marital status, family composition, employment status, cultural competence, and the degree to which African American Baptist adults execute advance directives; (5) There is an association between gender, age, educational status, socio-economic status, marital status, family composition, employment status, and the "fear of death" anxiety and the degree to which African American Baptist adults execute advance directives; (6) There is an association between gender, age, educational status, socio-economic status, marital status, family composition, employment status, racism, cultural mistrust, spirituality, cultural competence, the "fear of death" anxiety, and the degree to which African American Baptist adults execute advance directives. The study design consisted of 330 African American Baptist adults in a metropolitan Mid - Atlantic Region of the United States. Sample data were analyzed using forward stepwise multi -nominal logistic regression analysis. Major findings indicated that gender, racism, and the "fear of death" anxiety influenced the degree of execution more significantly than other independent predictor variables in the production of a prediction model.