This study examined how social interactions influence how people view their roles and the subsequent emotions that result from the social interaction. For the purpose of this study, this framework was applied to the doctor-patient interaction that occurs between Mexican American patients and their doctors in order to explain the discrepancies in health care satisfaction experienced by Mexican Americans utilizing health care services in the United States. Prior research has indicated that Mexican Americans, when compared with Whites and other minority groups, express low perceived satisfaction in regard to health care in the United States. In depth interviews were conducted with eight Mexican Americans of varying genders, ages, and education levels in an effort to gain insight into this phenomenon. All of the participants were immigrants themselves or first generation Mexican Americans. Additionally, each of the participants held legal status to live and work in the United States, was bilingual in English and Spanish, and had health insurance.

Results indicate that factors such as the effect of roles and status on the doctor-patient interaction, power differentials, and cultural beliefs surrounding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) play a large role in the way that each respondent perceives his/her health care experience.