20th Annual Student Research Conference
Human Potential and Performance
Is acculturation related to type and amount of physical activity among Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes?
Kelly N. Haley
Dr. Jerry Mayhew and Dr. Lorraine Weatherspoon (Michigan State University), Faculty Mentors
A critical component of Type 2 diabetes self-management is physical activity (both type and amount). The Hispanic population is disproportionately afflicted with Type 2 diabetes, and acculturation may be an important predictor of self-management behaviors including physical activity. Acculturation refers to the process by which immigrants adopt the attitudes, values, customs, beliefs and behaviors of a new culture (Abraido-Lanza, Chao, Florez 2005). Ten Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes were recruited from the Cristo Rey Clinic in Lansing, MI. A qualitative study triangulated with quantitative descriptive data was conducted to assess the relationship between acculturation and physical activity in a sample of acceptably (HbA1c<8%) and unacceptably (HbA1c>8%) glycemically controlled Hispanic adults with Type 2 diabetes. Full time manual labor employment and family support were key characteristics of the acceptably controlled group. Self-management education programs need to focus on traditional as well as non-traditional forms of exercise and family centered approaches.
Keywords: acculturation, diabetes, hispanics, physical activity, michigan, self-management, acceptable control, unacceptable control
Topic(s):Exercise Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 4-2
Location: VH 1000
Time: 8:30 am