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. 2014 Dec:123:26-36.
doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.10.034. Epub 2014 Oct 18.

Pathways between acculturation and health behaviors among residents of low-income housing: the mediating role of social and contextual factors

Jennifer Dacey Allen  1 , Caitlin Caspi  2 , May Yang  3 , Bryan Leyva  4 , Anne M Stoddard  3 , Sara Tamers  5 , Reginald D Tucker-Seeley  5 , Glorian C Sorensen  5
Affiliations

Pathways between acculturation and health behaviors among residents of low-income housing: the mediating role of social and contextual factors

Jennifer Dacey Allen et al. Soc Sci Med. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Acculturation may influence health behaviors, yet mechanisms underlying its effect are not well understood. In this study, we describe relationships between acculturation and health behaviors among low-income housing residents, and examine whether these relationships are mediated by social and contextual factors. Residents of 20 low-income housing sites in the Boston metropolitan area completed surveys that assessed acculturative characteristics, social/contextual factors, and health behaviors. A composite acculturation scale was developed using latent class analysis, resulting in four distinct acculturative groups. Path analysis was used to examine interrelationships between acculturation, health behaviors, and social/contextual factors, specifically self-reported social ties, social support, stress, material hardship, and discrimination. Of the 828 respondents, 69% were born outside of the U.S. Less acculturated groups exhibited healthier dietary practices and were less likely to smoke than more acculturated groups. Acculturation had a direct effect on diet and smoking, but not physical activity. Acculturation also showed an indirect effect on diet through its relationship with material hardship. Our finding that material hardship mediated the relationship between acculturation and diet suggests the need to explicate the significant role of financial resources in interventions seeking to promote healthy diets among low-income immigrant groups. Future research should examine these social and contextual mediators using larger, population-based samples, preferably with longitudinal data.

Keywords: Acculturation; Health behavior; Immigrant; Public housing; Social context; United States.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hypothesized causal pathway: Association between acculturation, social/contextual factors and health behaviors
Figure 2
Figure 2
Tested pathways between acculturation and health behavior
Figure 3
Figure 3
Acculturation, Social/Contextual Factors and Healthy Eating Index
Figure 4
Figure 4
Acculturation, Social/Contextual Factors and Current Smoking
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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