Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
Volume 42, Issue 5, 2011, Pages 699-724

Pacific Islands Families study: The association of infant health risk indicators and acculturation of Pacific Island mothers living in New Zealand (Article)

Borrows J.* , Williams M. , Schluter P. , Paterson J. , Langitoto Helu S.
  • a School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, AUT University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, New Zealand
  • b School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, AUT University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, New Zealand
  • c School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand, and the University of Queensland, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Australia
  • d School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
  • e School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

The Pacific Islands Families study follows a cohort of 1,398 Pacific infants born in Auckland, New Zealand. This article examines associations between maternal acculturation, measured by an abbreviated version of the General Ethnicity Questionnaire, and selected infant and maternal health risk indicators. Findings reveal that those with strong alignment to Pacific culture had significantly better infant and maternal risk factor outcomes than those with weak cultural alignment. In terms of Berry's classical acculturation model, separators had the best infant and maternal outcomes; integrators had reasonable infant and maternal outcomes, while assimilators and marginalisors appeared to have the poorest infant and maternal outcomes. These findings suggest that retaining strong cultural links for Pacific immigrants is likely to have positive health benefits. © The Author(s) 2011.

Author Keywords

Pacific health infant health risk Culture and health Acculturation

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79959328783&doi=10.1177%2f0022022110362750&partnerID=40&md5=935f79be8b8555b19d8d0c0cd7f73b78
DOI: 10.1177/0022022110362750
ISSN: 00220221
Cited by: 20
Original Language: English