Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 14, Issue 5, 2012, Pages 885-889

Health beliefs and attitudes of Latino immigrants: Rethinking acculturation as a constant (Article)

Villar M.E.* , Concha M. , Zamith R.
  • a Advertising and Public Relations Department, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, AC-II 328A, Miami, FL 33181, United States
  • b School of Public Administration, College of Health and Public Affairs, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, FL 32816-1395, United States
  • c School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33181, United States

Abstract

Health disparities among Latinos have been associated with acculturation, but there is a lack of consensus about how acculturation variables translate into health beliefs that can be used to target attitude and behavior change interventions. Transcripts from three qualitative studies including 64 Latino immigrant adults were analyzed through inductive reasoning to assess relationships between more or less acculturated attitudes, and demographic variables. In the three topic areas of gender roles, sex education, and seeking professional help, attitudes ranged from conservative (less acculturated) to liberal (more acculturated), but did not seem associated with age, education or years in the United States. When dealing with specific health topics, it is not possible to infer specific attitudes, strength of attitudes or level of acculturation of intervention recipients. To develop sound, culturally competent interventions, it is necessary to assess the targets' beliefs and attitudes and tailor messages in specific contexts. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012.

Author Keywords

Health beliefs health messages Acculturation Social judgment theory Latino culture

Index Keywords

Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation cultural factor ethnology psychological aspect gender identity Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Hispanic Americans Article Sex Education attitude to health sexual education human Humans migration Hispanic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84871728439&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-012-9579-5&partnerID=40&md5=00e29af8681061cd7921d6803dd88f39
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-012-9579-5
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English