Investigating obesity risk-reduction behaviours and psychosocial factors in Chinese Americans

Authors

Yeon Bai, Montclair State UniversityFollow
Doreen Liou, Montclair State UniversityFollow
Kathleen D. Bauer, Montclair State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 5-21-2013

Journal / Book Title

Perspective in Public Health

Abstract

AIM: The purpose of this research was to examine the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to obesity risk reduction in Chinese Americans.

METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 300 US-born and foreign-born Chinese Americans residing in the New York metropolitan area, ranging from 18 to 40 years of age. Obesity risk reduction behaviors and psychosocial variables derived from the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Health Belief Model were measured. Acculturation was assessed using a modified Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale. Frequency distributions were delineated and stepwise regression analyses were analyzed for different acculturation groups.

RESULTS: 65% of the respondents were female and the mean age of the sample was 26 years. Respondents indicated the most commonly practiced behavior to be eating home-cooked meals instead of restaurant-prepared foods. Perceived barriers to adopting obesity risk-reduction behaviors included the convenience of consuming fast foods, cost, lack of time to prepare home-cooked meals, and the physical environment of unhealthy foods. In predicting intention to perform obesity risk-reduction behaviors, the attitude was significant for 'Western-identified' individuals. In 'Asian-identified' individuals, perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy and perceived benefits were salient.

CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition educators working with Chinese Americans need to address self-efficacy in preparing plant-based, home-cooked meals and making healthy choices at fast-food restaurants with portion control. Concrete and perceived barriers such as lack of time and convenience need to be addressed in nutrition education interventions. Educators need to identify new channels and media outlets to disseminate practical, easy-to-implement behaviors for obesity risk reduction that are socially acceptable.

DOI

10.1177/1757913913486874

MSU Digital Commons Citation

Bai, Yeon; Liou, Doreen; and Bauer, Kathleen D., "Investigating obesity risk-reduction behaviours and psychosocial factors in Chinese Americans" (2013). Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works. 6.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/nutr-foodstudies-facpubs/6

Published Citation

Liou, Doreen, Kathleen Bauer, and Yeon Bai. "Investigating obesity risk-reduction behaviours and psychosocial factors in Chinese Americans." Perspectives in public health 134, no. 6 (2014): 321-330.