title: Social support, acculturation, and optimism: understanding positive health practices in Asian American college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study developed and tested a theory to better understand positive health practices (PHP) among Asian Americans aged 18 to 21 years. It tested theoretical relationships postulated between PHP and (a) social support (SS), (b) optimism, and (c) acculturation, and between SS and optimism and acculturation. Optimism and acculturation were also tested as possible mediators in the relationship between SS and PHP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A correlational study design was used. A convenience sample of 163 Asian college students in an urban setting completed four questionnaires assessing SS, PHP, optimism, and acculturation and one demographic questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant positive relationships between SS and optimism with PHP, between acculturation and PHP, and between optimism and SS. Optimism mediated the relationship between SS and PHP, whereas acculturation did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings extend knowledge regarding these relationships to a defined population of Asian Americans aged 18 to 21 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings contribute to a more comprehensive knowledge base regarding health practices among Asian Americans. The theoretical and empirical findings of this study provide the direction for future research as well. Further studies need to be conducted to identify and test other mediators in order to better understand the relationship between these two variables.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA. cgayres@rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Cynthia G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ayres
authors.forename: Ganga
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mahat
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D040241:Social Marketing; D012944:Social Support; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016746:Transcultural Nursing; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult