Significance: Reducing health status (HS) differences across ethnic groups is a goal of Healthy People 2010. Literature suggests acculturation stress (AS), intergenerational and gender role conflict due to cultural distance between minorities and host culture adversely affects health and quality of life (QOL). The United States is home to relatively large immigrant populations of Japanese-Americans (JA) and Indo-Americans (IA). Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing and least studied ethnic groups in the U.S. However, there is a lack of empirical studies of their health behavior, HS, and (QOL). Objectives: The two objectives are to study: (1) how the same host culture (USA) and, (2) how different host cultures, affect health and QOL of JA and IA. Methods: Primary survey data from Los Angeles County, (JA n=518, IA n=480); Sao Paolo (n=1721); Tokyo (n=620); Kuala Lumpur (n=343), and Mumbai, (n=800) is used for comparisons. To address the first objective, samples of JA and IA in Los Angeles are compared. For second objective, samples from countries of origin (Japan and India) and from another country (Brazil and Malaysia) will serve as comparison groups. Results: Chi-square tests, correlations, means, and percentages, examine data on six study domains: (1) socio-economic and acculturation status, (2) objective and subjective HS, (3) health related behavior, (4) health care access and practices, (5) objective and subjective QOL, and (6) intergenerational and gender-role conflicts. Significant differences in HS, QOL, and other domains attributable to AS are observed. Implications for research, policy, and prevention is discussed.
Learning Objectives: Participants will gain understanding of how: (1) acculturation stress affects health risks and quality of life of Asian Americans, (2) different host cultures (California, Brazil, Thailand) affect groups from the same ethnic origin, (3) QOL and health status differ from native country to host country, and (4) specific implications for policy and prevention
Keywords: Quality of Life, Minorities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.