TY - JOUR
T1 - Enculturation, perceived stress, and physical activity
T2 - Implications for metabolic risk among the Yup'ik - The Center for Alaska Native Health Research Study
AU - Bersamin, Andrea
AU - Wolsko, Christopher
AU - Luick, Bret R.
AU - Boyer, Bert B.
AU - Lardon, Cecile
AU - Hopkins, Scarlett E.
AU - Stern, Judith S.
AU - Zidenberg-Cherr, Sheri
PY - 2014/5/4
Y1 - 2014/5/4
N2 - Objectives. American Indians and Alaska Natives (ANs) report among the lowest levels of physical activity in the USA, but there is very little systematic research examining the determinants of physical activity patterns in these populations. This study investigated the relationships between enculturation (or cultural traditionality), psychosocial stress, and physical activity in a community-based sample of Yup'ik women and men living in rural AN communities. Associations between these variables and several metabolic risk factors were also examined.Design. A sample of 488 Yup'ik participants (284 women and 204 men) from six villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region completed a wellness survey and an array of physiological assessments [e.g., body mass index (BMI), blood pressure]. A subset of 179 participants also completed a 3-day pedometer assessment of physical activity.Results. Multivariate linear regression models indicated that participants who were more enculturated (i.e., living more of a traditional lifestyle) and who experienced lower levels of psychosocial stress were significantly more physically active. In turn, both lower levels of psychosocial stress and higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower BMI, lower percent body fat, and lower waist circumference.Conclusions. Findings underscore the importance of gaining a culturally specific understanding of physical activity patterns in indigenous groups in order to inform effective health promotion strategies.
AB - Objectives. American Indians and Alaska Natives (ANs) report among the lowest levels of physical activity in the USA, but there is very little systematic research examining the determinants of physical activity patterns in these populations. This study investigated the relationships between enculturation (or cultural traditionality), psychosocial stress, and physical activity in a community-based sample of Yup'ik women and men living in rural AN communities. Associations between these variables and several metabolic risk factors were also examined.Design. A sample of 488 Yup'ik participants (284 women and 204 men) from six villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region completed a wellness survey and an array of physiological assessments [e.g., body mass index (BMI), blood pressure]. A subset of 179 participants also completed a 3-day pedometer assessment of physical activity.Results. Multivariate linear regression models indicated that participants who were more enculturated (i.e., living more of a traditional lifestyle) and who experienced lower levels of psychosocial stress were significantly more physically active. In turn, both lower levels of psychosocial stress and higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower BMI, lower percent body fat, and lower waist circumference.Conclusions. Findings underscore the importance of gaining a culturally specific understanding of physical activity patterns in indigenous groups in order to inform effective health promotion strategies.
KW - Alaska Natives
KW - Enculturation
KW - Obesity
KW - Pedometers
KW - Physical activity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84899526525&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84899526525&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13557858.2012.758691
DO - 10.1080/13557858.2012.758691
M3 - Article
C2 - 23297688
AN - SCOPUS:84899526525
SN - 1355-7858
VL - 19
SP - 255
EP - 269
JO - Ethnicity and Health
JF - Ethnicity and Health
IS - 3
ER -