title: Perceptions of Factors Impacting Longevity among Hawai'i Older Adults.
abstract: With increased life expectancy, people need more education about healthy aging. This paper examines older adult perceptions regarding various factors impacting longevity, including genetics, lifestyle, and the environment. Data were collected from 733 Hawai'i adults age 50 years and older (39% Caucasian, 27% Japanese, 19% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHOPI), 9% Chinese, and 7% Filipino) through randomized telephone interviews. Participants were asked to rate a variety of factors as having "great impact," "some impact," or "no impact" on lifespan. Regardless of ethnicity, more than half of the participants felt that eating habits, exercise, health information, health care, and the environment had great impact on lifespan. Less than half felt that economic status and community had great impact. Compared to the all ethnic groups, Filipino respondents were significantly less likely to feel that smoking (44%, compared with an average across all race/ethnicities of 64%) and stress (48%, average 62%) had great impact. Chinese participants were more likely to feel that drinking alcohol (64%) had great impact (average 38%). Filipinos and Chinese were more likely to perceive that working conditions have great impact (65% and 56%, respectively; average 45%), and NHOPI and Filipinos were more likely to perceive the natural environment as having great impact (59% and 54%, respectively; average 46%). Findings suggest that cultural values and experiences may shape older adults' perceptions of factors associated with lifespan, providing guidance for health professionals on how to tailor health messages to older adults in different ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI (MT, KB).
authors.forename: Michiyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomioka
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI (MT, KB).
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI (MT, KB).
authors.forename: Mieko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Homma
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI (MT, KB).
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nobuhara
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI (MT, KB).
authors.forename: Tomio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI (MT, KB).
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Lifespan/impact on lifespan; health education; minority