A comparison of Health behavior, Physical strength, and Self-rated health between Korean and Korean-Chinese young adult women

Purpose: A number of Korean–Chinese young adult women recently immigrate into South Korea from China. Although it is commonly assumed Korean-Chinese women have similar cultural attitudes and values to Korean women in South Korea. However, their health behavior, physical strength, and self-rated health are very little known. It is imperative to explore their health behavior, physical strength, and self-rated health. The purpose of this study was to compare health behavior, physical strength and self-rated health between Korean and Korean-Chinese young adult women.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional comparative, survey study. 114 young adult women in Seoul, South Korea and 64 young adult women in Yanbian, China were recruited using a convenience sampling method. Health behavior was measured using the health habit assessment scale. Physical strength was measured using the Nicholas muscle tester, sit-up test, and a standing trunk flexion meter. Self-rated health was measured using the visual analog scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient analyses.

Results: There was no significantly difference on the health behavior score among two groups. But, the Korean women's score of self-rated health was significantly lower than the Korean-Chinese women's one. The Korean women's scores of knee flexion and, ankle dorsal flexion were significantly higher than the Korean-Chinese women's one. The Korean-Chinese women's scores of flexibility, and sit-up test were significantly higher than the Korean women's scores. There was positively correlation between health habit and self-rated health.

Conclusions: In this study, there was no difference on health behavior between Korean and Korean-Chinese adult women. This is related that they have a similar health relating lifestyle. But, there were differences on self-rated health and, physical strength. This fact means Korean and Korean-Chinese early adult women have different an attitude of their health status and, the physical status. In the future studies, related factors of self-rated health and, physical strength should be demonstrated in Korean and Korean-Chinese young adult women.