Health attitudes and behaviors: comparison of Japanese and Americans of Japanese and European Ancestry.
Adults living in Japan (N = 357) and the US (N = 223) completed semi-structured interviews assessing health-related attitudes and practices. The US respondents were of Japanese (N = 106) and European (N = 117) ancestry. Results indicated considerable similarity between the two US groups and significant differences between the Japanese and American respondents. The Japanese respondents placed less priority on health, had less belief in the efficacy of health screening tests, lower levels of internal health locus of control (HLOC), and higher levels of chance and powerful-others HLOC. While Japanese and Americans had similar overall levels of healthy behaviors, the Japanese were less likely to have obtained health screening tests (especially gynecologic exams). The findings have implications for adapting health promotion programs in the context of Japanese and American cultures.
Gotay
Carolyn Cook
CC
Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, 1236 Lauhala St, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
Shimizu
Hiroyuki
H
Muraoka
Miles
M
Ishihara
Yoko
Y
Tsuboi
Koji
K
Ogawa
Hiroshi
H
D044466:Asian People; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044465:White People