Comparison of health-promoting behavior between Taiwanese and American adolescents: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of this study was to compare the health promotion practices of Taiwanese (n=265) and American (n=285) adolescents, using the revised Adolescent Health Promoting scale.


METHODS
A comparative and descriptive design was used. Categorical data analysis was applied to explore the association of culture differences and adolescent health-promoting behaviors.


RESULTS
Findings indicated significant differences between Taiwanese and American adolescents in some demographic characteristics: American participants had higher self-perceived health status (p<0.001), parental educational level (p<0.001), overweight percentage (p<0.001), and rate of living only with the mother (p<0.001) than the Taiwanese participants. Taiwanese adolescents had a higher frequency of health-promoting behavior than Americans in terms of healthy diet behavior, stress management, health responsibility, and social support (p<0.01), but less frequently engaged in exercise and life appreciation (p<0.001). Because many of the demographic characteristics between the two countries, such as the parent's educational level, differ significantly, a comparison can be difficult. However, healthy behavior is an important measure of demand for preventive health services.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings should sound an alarm for all public health professionals to take heed of what is happening to our youth based on culture differences. School and family health promotion counseling should be encouraged for adolescents to improve their lifestyle habits. Based on the findings, school health promotion programs should focus on factors for which there may be significant local ethnic differences. For the locales in this study, Taiwanese adolescents need encouragement to improve their exercise and life appreciation behaviors. For American adolescents, healthy diet, stress management, health responsibility, and social support should be emphasized.
Chen
Mei-Yen
MY
Nursing Department, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, 261, Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan. meiyen@mail.cgit.edu.tw
James
Kathy
K
Wang
Edward K
EK
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002140:California; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D012572:School Health Services; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan