Swierad Ewelina M, Vartanian Lenny R, King Marlee
School of Psychology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
School of Social Sciences and Psychology, University of Western Sydney, Penrith 2751, Australia.
Behav Sci (Basel). 2017 Aug 4;7(3):49. doi: 10.3390/bs7030049.
Culture plays an important role in shaping individuals' health behaviors. This qualitative research examines the relationship between African Americans' ethnic and mainstream cultures and their health behaviors (i.e., food intake and physical activity).
This study used in-depth semi-structured interview format with a group of 25 African Americans to examine the influence of ethnic and mainstream culture on African Americans' food intake and physical activity. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes and patterns related to African Americans' health behaviors as well as to report these patterns within data.
The present study found that African Americans position both their ethnic and mainstream culture as important influences on their health behaviors pertaining to food intake and physical activity. Most participants reported taking advantage of "the best of both worlds" by engaging in healthy behaviors from both cultures to which they belong, and they perceived preparing as a way to optimize their health. They also identified a range of practical considerations that can facilitate or hinder engagement in healthy eating and physical activity (e.g., affordability, social support). Participants discussed a number of other positive (e.g., resilience, spirituality) and negative (e.g., experience of discrimination) influences on health behaviors.
African Americans consider both their ethnic and mainstream cultures important in shaping their health behaviors. These cultural influences need to be understood in the context of other psycho-socio-environmental factors that affect individuals' health behaviors. The current study has practical implications for designing health promotion programs for African Americans.
文化在塑造个体健康行为方面发挥着重要作用。这项定性研究考察了非裔美国人的种族文化和主流文化与他们的健康行为（即食物摄入和体育活动）之间的关系。
本研究采用深入的半结构化访谈形式，对25名非裔美国人进行了访谈，以考察种族文化和主流文化对非裔美国人食物摄入和体育活动的影响。采用主题分析法来识别与非裔美国人健康行为相关的共同主题和模式，并在数据中报告这些模式。
本研究发现，非裔美国人认为他们的种族文化和主流文化对其与食物摄入和体育活动相关的健康行为都有重要影响。大多数参与者报告说，他们通过践行所属两种文化中的健康行为来利用“两全其美”的优势，并且他们将烹饪视为优化健康的一种方式。他们还确定了一系列可能促进或阻碍参与健康饮食和体育活动的实际因素（例如，可承受性、社会支持）。参与者讨论了许多其他对健康行为有积极（例如，恢复力、精神性）和消极（例如，歧视经历）影响的因素。
非裔美国人认为他们的种族文化和主流文化在塑造其健康行为方面都很重要。需要在影响个体健康行为的其他心理社会环境因素的背景下理解这些文化影响。本研究对为非裔美国人设计健康促进项目具有实际意义。
