From Menarche to Menopause: Tri-Generational Latine Family Communication About Reproductive Health Milestones

This study aims to understand tri-generational familial communication patterns among grandmothers, mothers, and granddaughters experiencing reproductive health transitions from menarche to menopause within the Latine community. Using the managing meanings of embodied experiences (MMEE) theory as both a methodological and theoretical framework, we examined and thematized familial communication patterns influenced by embodied, cultural, biomedical, and societal factors, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of reproductive health transitions. the MMEE theory effectively explores how identity formation (being), health-related actions (doing), and personal growth (becoming) are shaped by intergenerational dialogs and cultural values, thus offering deep insights into Latine community narratives of agency and empowerment amid reproductive health challenges. Our findings highlight how women's reproductive health experiences, such as menstruation, menopause, and fertility, are deeply intertwined with sense of self, cultural beliefs, and familial relationships, aligning with MMEE theory's themes of being (attending to bodily signals during embodied changes), doing (favoring traditional medicine over conventional medicine), and becoming (transforming societal limitations into resiliency with familial and community support). This research provides several potential practical applications for healthcare providers who desire to increase their cultural competencies in health care, including integrating diverse, inclusive, and equitable health interventions to better serve patients from culturally diverse backgrounds transitioning through reproductive health milestones.