title: Effect of acculturation and health beliefs on utilization of health care services by elderly women who immigrated to the USA from the former Soviet Union.
abstract: In this mixed methods study, researchers explored what conditions influence women's use of professional health care services, and how sociocultural environments and acculturation affect utilization of health care services. We recruited 15 women in the Ukraine, 15 women who immigrated from the former Soviet Union, and 10 female U.S. citizens. Data include open-ended interviews, a "general information" questionnaire, and the Language, Identity and Behavioral Acculturation scale. Acculturation levels and length of residency in the United States were not consistent predictors of health-seeking behaviors for immigrants. The stronger predictor of health beliefs and health related behaviors among all participants was their mothers' health beliefs and health related behaviors.
authors.affiliation: a Applied Gerontology Program, School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington , Wilmington , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Lyubov A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Yarova
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krassen Covan
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fugate-Whitlock
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014586:USSR / Q000208:ethnology; D014455:Ukraine / Q000208:ethnology