Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 13, Issue 5, 2011, Pages 849-859

Language use and adherence to multiple cancer preventive health behaviors among Hispanics (Article)

Oh A.* , Dodd K. , Ballard-Barbash R. , Perna F.M. , Berrigan D.
  • a National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Prevention, Health Promotion Research Branch, 6130 Executive Blvd, MSC 7335, Rockville, MD 20852-7335, United States
  • b National Cancer Institute, Biometry Research Group, Rockville, MD, United States
  • c National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Prevention, Applied Research Program, Rockville, MD, United States
  • d National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Prevention, Health Promotion Research Branch, 6130 Executive Blvd, MSC 7335, Rockville, MD 20852-7335, United States
  • e National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Prevention, Applied Research Program, Rockville, MD, United States

Abstract

Hispanics have lower cancer mortality rates than non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks, despite demographic profiles previously associated with higher cancer mortality. Differences in adherence to multiple cancer-preventive behaviors by acculturation may offer one explanation for this "Hispanic paradox," but the relationship is not well understood. We examined this relationship using the 2000 National Health Interview Survey, which provides crosssectional data on a nationally representative sample of US Hispanics. Multinomial logistic regression models estimated relationships between language use (a measure of acculturation) and patterns of adherence, by gender, to multiple cancer-preventive health behaviors using adherence scores. Hispanics had greater odds of adherence to multiple behaviors compared to Non-Hispanics (OR = 2.76 [2.27, 3.36]). Hispanics with greater English language use had lower odds of adherence (OR = 0.45 [0.29, 0.69]). Women were more adherent than men (P<0.01) and their language use was associated with patterns of behavioral adherence more so than among men. Differences by gender and language use were identified in patterns of adherence to behavioral recommendations among the Hispanic population. Greater English language use was negatively associated with tobacco, alcohol, fruit and vegetable recommendation adherence but not with exercise. Study findings support evidence behaviors occur in combination and contributes to understanding of the role of language use in patterns of behavioral adherence. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC (Outside the USA) 2011.

Author Keywords

Hispanic Language use Behavior patterns adherence Acculturation

Index Keywords

neoplasm Neoplasms human middle aged Health Surveys language Risk Reduction Behavior ethnology Hispanic Americans United States Young Adult Humans Hispanic male Acculturation female cultural factor Article patient compliance adult risk reduction health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-81355122625&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-011-9456-7&partnerID=40&md5=40c6d63881227237ff4b27267080da23
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-011-9456-7
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English