Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 14, Issue 5, 2012, Pages 774-785

Barriers to lifestyle behavioral change in migrant South Asian populations (Review)

Patel M.* , Phillips-Caesar E. , Boutin-Foster C.
  • a Department of Medicine, Divison of General Internal Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, 1111 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025, United States
  • b Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluative Sciences Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
  • c Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluative Sciences Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

The purpose of this literature review is to describe and assess the cultural barriers to behavior change in migrant South Asians, given the high morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease in this population. We reviewed studies that explored the relationship between South Asian culture in the Diaspora and lifestyle behaviors. Our review produced 91 studies, of which 25 discussed the relationship between various aspects of South Asians' belief system and their approach to modifying lifestyle habits. We identify 6 specific categories of beliefs which play the largest role in the difficulties South Asians describe with behavior change: gender roles, body image, physical activity misconceptions, cultural priorities, cultural identity, and explanatory model of disease. Future research and interventions should account for these cultural factors to successfully improve dietary habits and physical activity levels in migrant South Asian populations. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.

Author Keywords

South Asian Exercise diet cardiovascular disease Cultural barriers

Index Keywords

cultural anthropology lifestyle Life Style exercise Cardiovascular Diseases human Health Behavior statistics ethnology gender identity Body Image United States Humans cardiovascular disease Asian Americans male Asian American female Review Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice migration Transients and Migrants attitude to health Culture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84871767525&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-011-9550-x&partnerID=40&md5=5494995fdc5d8f621aab864cf2eedf63
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-011-9550-x
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 29
Original Language: English