title: Acculturation matters: risk perceptions of smoking among Bosnian refugees living in the United States.
abstract: The relationship between acculturation and health behavior change is complex. Little research has focused on acculturation and perceptions of health-related risks. This study investigated acculturation and risk perceptions of heart attack and lung cancer among a group of refugees. Questionnaires were distributed to a sample of Bosnian refugees living in the United States (N = 55). Results indicated that smokers thought they were less at risk than other smokers and no more at risk than non-smokers, whereas non-smokers did not think they were less at risk than other non-smokers. Greater acculturation was associated with greater perception of smokers' risk of heart attack and lung cancer. Smoking cessation interventions with refugees should incorporate culturally appropriate risk information.
authors: Department of Psychology, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA 17013, USA. helwegm@dickinson.edu
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Helweg-Larsen
authors: Lucia M
authors: LM
authors: Stancioff
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology*; D012938:Social Perception; D014481:United States