Abstract
Few studies have compared health behaviors of Koreans in their home country and Korean Americans. Using 2009 data from the
Community Health Survey (South Korea) and the California Health Interview Survey (USA), we compared native Koreans and Korean
Americans, grouped by level of acculturation, on prevalence of specific health behaviors and self-rated health, and conducted
multiple logistic regression comparing the odds of these behaviors among the groups adjusted for demographic variables. While
Korean Americans exhibit healthier behaviors than Koreans in some areas (e.g., reduced smoking and binge drinking in men,
increased utilization of flu vaccinations), we also identified problem behaviors (e.g., increased body weight in Korean American
men, uptake of alcohol drinking and smoking among Korean American women). Findings support the critical need for health promotion
programs addressing these health behaviors to prevent future health problems among Korean Americans.
Community Health Survey (South Korea) and the California Health Interview Survey (USA), we compared native Koreans and Korean
Americans, grouped by level of acculturation, on prevalence of specific health behaviors and self-rated health, and conducted
multiple logistic regression comparing the odds of these behaviors among the groups adjusted for demographic variables. While
Korean Americans exhibit healthier behaviors than Koreans in some areas (e.g., reduced smoking and binge drinking in men,
increased utilization of flu vaccinations), we also identified problem behaviors (e.g., increased body weight in Korean American
men, uptake of alcohol drinking and smoking among Korean American women). Findings support the critical need for health promotion
programs addressing these health behaviors to prevent future health problems among Korean Americans.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9706-3
- Authors
- So Yeon Ryu, Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University Medical School, #309 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju, Korea
- Catherine M. Crespi, Fielding School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, 650 Charles Young Drive South, Room A2-125, CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6900, USA
- Annette E. Maxwell, Fielding School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, 650 Charles Young Drive South, Room A2-125, CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6900, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912