Thesis
The Association Between Acculturation and Perceptions of Body Mass Index and Health Among Migrant Australian Adolescents
Masters by Research, Murdoch University
2024
Abstract
Background: Both globally and in Australia, the rates of child and adolescent overweight and obesity are excessive. These rates of overweight and obesity are associated with lifestyle behaviours such as a high-energy diet and low levels of physical activity. Children and adolescents from migrant families are particularly vulnerable to overweight and obesity, with several factors including parental influence, gender norms, acculturation and socioeconomic status (SES) being implicated. These factors are explored in greater detail in the literature review. The experimental chapter then aims to address the primary aim of this thesis, which is to better understand migrant adolescents’ behaviours and beliefs relating to weight status and health, and how these behaviours and beliefs correlate with acculturation status.
Methods: The study included 43 participants, aged 12 to 17, who represented diverse ethnic backgrounds: Arab (n=10), Australian (n=9), Southern and East African (n=7), Southern Asian (n=6), Central Asian (n=4), Sudanese (n=2), South Eastern European (n=1), and New Zealander (n=1), with three participants not specifying their ethnicity. Data collection was conducted through an online Qualtrics survey integrating questions from validated assessment tools, including the Food Frequency & Nutrition Questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (iPAQ), the Adolescent Sedentary Activities Questionnaire (ASAQ), the Short Acculturation Scale, and the Standard High School Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBSS).
Findings: The study found no significant associations between BMI and levels of acculturation among young migrant people. However, migrant adolescents with higher BMI consumed higher quantities of energy-rich or diet drinks. Acculturation was linked to consuming fewer energy-rich or diet drinks; suggesting that those migrants with higher levels of acculturation, consumed less quantities of these drinks. Adolescents who had experienced bullying in the past year also had lower acculturation scores than those who had not. These outcomes, whilst preliminary, have important ramifications for migrant adolescents in Western Australia and further research into these important areas are warranted.
Details
- Title
- The Association Between Acculturation and Perceptions of Body Mass Index and Health Among Migrant Australian Adolescents
- Authors/Creators
- Zahraa Hussein
- Contributors
- Timothy Fairchild (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, School of Allied HealthBrad Wall (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, Centre for Healthy AgeingBrook Galna (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, Centre for Healthy Ageing
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Masters by Research
- Identifiers
- 991005807944407891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Resource Type
- Thesis
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