A Cross-Cultural Approach to the Study of the Folk Illness Nervios

Authors

Roberta D. Baer
Susan C. Weller
Javier Garcia de Alba Garcia
Mark Glazer, University of Texas-Pan American
Robert Trotter
Lee Pachter
Robert E. Klein

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2003

Abstract

To systematically study and document regional variations in descriptions of nervios, we undertook a multisite comparative study of the illness among Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and Guatemalans. We also conducted a parallel study on susto (Weller et al. 2002, Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 26(4): 449– 472), which allows for a systematic comparison of these illnesses across sites. The focus of this paper is inter- and intracultural variations in descriptions in four Latino populations of the causes, symptoms, and treatments of nervios, as well as similarities and differences between nervios and susto in these same communities. We found agreement among all four samples on a core description of nervios, as well as some overlap in aspects of nervios and susto. However, nervios is a much broader illness, related more to continual stresses. In contrast, susto seems to be related to a single stressful event.

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Recommended Citation

Baer, R.D., Weller, S.C., de Alba Garcia, J.G. et al. A Cross-Cultural Approach to the Study of the Folk Illness Nervios . Cult Med Psychiatry 27, 315–337 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025351231862

Publication Title

Cult Med Psychiatry

DOI

10.1023/A:1025351231862