Race/Ethnic Variations in Predictors of Health Consciousness Within the Cancer Prevention Context

Abstract

Purpose: Although the literature establishes a link between health consciousness (HC) and prevention behavior, less explored are the individual, social, and health characteristics that are associated with increased HC. Similarly, underexamined is the influence of race and ethnicity on the relationship of these characteristics to higher levels of HC.

Design: This cross-sectional study aims to identify and assess the relative importance of factors associated with higher levels of HC, highlighting the role of race and ethnicity.

Participants: Participants came from a national research panel survey (N = 1007).

Measures: Participants completed a 4-item scale capturing key concepts of HC as well as questionnaires capturing demographic profiles, social support, social networking activities, and health status.

Analysis: A stepwise multiple regression was used to identify significant predictors of HC.

Results: Female and more educated participants report higher levels of HC. African American and Hispanic participants report higher levels of HC compared to white participants. Findings indicate social support, social network participation, education, cancer survivorship, and health status were positively associated with higher HC for the collective sample. However, results revealed variations in factors associated with higher HC when stratified by race/ethnicity.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that interventions aiming to motivate cancer prevention behaviors within at-risk communities may find more success by incorporating factors that are aligned with increased HC among culturally diverse populations.

Keywords: cancer; ethnicity; health; health consciousness; race.