Acculturation, socioeconomic status, obesity and lifestyle factors among low-income Puerto Rican women in Connecticut, U.S., 1998-1999.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To examine the associations of socioeconomic status and acculturation with obesity and lifestyle characteristics that may be risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease among low-income Puerto Rican women.

METHODS:
This cross-sectional study was conducted between 1998 and 1999 by interviewing a convenience sample of 200 low-income Puerto Rican female caretakers of young children in Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America. Various recruitment methods were used to ensure adequate representation of the target community. The associations of obesity (body mass index > or = 30.0) and lifestyle factors (physical activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, food intake) with socioeconomic status (education, employment, car ownership), acculturation, age, and marital status were examined with Spearman rho, chi-squared, and Mann-Whitney U tests and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS:
Mean age was 29 years. Obesity (40%), physical inactivity (47%), and cigarette smoking (32%) were common. Less acculturated participants were 57% less likely to smoke and 54% less likely to be obese than their more acculturated counterparts. Lower socioeconomic status (not finishing high school or not owning a car) was associated with a higher likelihood of obesity, but unemployed (vs. employed) women were less likely to be obese (P < 0.05). Women who did not own a car consumed meat, eggs and fish less often than those who owned a car. Smokers were more likely to have an unhealthy food intake pattern than nonsmokers.

CONCLUSIONS:
The associations of acculturation and socioeconomic status with some lifestyle characteristics suggest the need for culturally appropriate programs to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in this low-income community.

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Author information

Author/s: Fitzgerald, Nurgül (N); Himmelgreen, David (D); Damio, Grace (G); Segura-Pérez, Sofia (S); Peng, Yu-Kuei (YK); Pérez-Escamilla, Rafael (R);

Affiliation: Department of Family and Community Health Sciences, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States of America. nfitzgerald(-atsign-)rcre.rutgers.edu

Grants: 1P20MD001765-01 (Agency:NCMHD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Revista panamericana de salud pública = Pan American journal of public health (Rev Panam Salud Publica), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 19 (issue 5) : pp 306-13

Dates: Created 2006/06/29; Completed 2006/09/15; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 16805972, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acculturation
Adolescent
Adult
Connecticut - epidemiology
Energy Intake
Female

Humans
Life Style
Middle Aged
Obesity - epidemiology; ethnology
Puerto Rico - ethnology
Socioeconomic Factors

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