Examples of Cultural Phenomena Affecting Health Care Among European (White) Americans
Nations of origin Germany, England, Italy, Ireland, the former Soviet Union, and all other European countries
Environmental control Primary reliance on “modern, Western” health care delivery system Remaining traditional HEALTH and ILLNESS beliefs and practices may be observed Some remaining traditional folk medicine and practices may be observed Homeopathic medicine resurgent
Biological variations Breast cancer Heart disease Diabetes mellitus Thalassemia (Southern Europeans)
Social organization Nuclear families Extended families Judeo-Christian religions Community and social organizations
Communication National languages Many learned English rapidly as immigrants Verbal, rather than nonverbal
Space Noncontact people—aloof, distant (Northern European) Southern countries—closer contact and touch