Becoming American: diet acculturation among refugee adolescents from Bhutan living in Georgia Open Access
Gray, Sarah Lynne (2014)
Published
Abstract
Background: The diets of refugee adolescents and other immigrants change with resettlement in America. Adolescent refugees are at a formative stage in life and food related behaviors can impact health. The population of refugees from Bhutan is growing in Georgia and little is known about food related behaviors, dietary changes and the role of best friends in diet acculturation among these adolescents.
Objective: This study examines the food related behaviors of adolescent refugees from Bhutan and explores the role of friends in changing these behaviors.
Methods: A questionnaire addressing food frequency, preferences and their perceptions of a best friend's food related behaviors was completed with 30 adolescent refugees from Bhutan between the ages of 9 and 19. Participants were recruited from the Bhutanese families resettled with World Relief in Clarkston, Georgia. Frequency of food consumption, preferences, and best friend correspondence analysis were calculated using Epi Info and SPSS.
Results: Participants showed preferences for both traditional Bhutanese foods and foods identified as American. Adolescents reported similarities with their nominated best friend in food consumptions patterns and preferences. A strong association was found between adolescent's frequency of fast food consumption and their perception of their best friend's fast food consumption. Participants viewed their own diets and the diets of their friends as being healthy.
Discussion: Adolescent refugees incorporate both Bhutanese foods and new foods into their diet upon resettlement and report food behavior similarities with their best friend. For the growing number of refugee and other immigrant adolescents in America, further research is needed to explore the process by which friends inform food related behaviors in order to promote healthy transitions and lifestyles for all Americans.
Table of Contents
Preface.............................................................................1
Chapter One: Introduction....................................................3
Chapter Two: Review of the Literature ................................7
Immigrants in America..........................................................7
Acculturation and Diet........................................................16
Role of Friends in Health Related Behaviors.............................22
Chapter Three: Theoretical Framework..................................29
Chapter Four: Methods ...................................................34
Overview.........................................................................34Population and Sample.......................................................34
Development of Instrument.................................................35
Interpretation & Training.....................................................37
Interviews.......................................................................38 Ethics.............................................................................38Data Collection.................................................................39
Data Analysis...................................................................41
Chapter Five: Results .....................................................43
Demographics..................................................................43
Research Questions .........................................................44
Chapter Six: Discussion, Conclusions and Recommendations ..47
Summary of Findings........................................................47
Conclusions....................................................................50Strengths and Weaknesses...............................................51
Recommendations............................................................52References...................................................................55
Appendices..................................................................64
Appendix A: ..................................................................64
Appendix B: Recommendations for Resettlement....................69
Appendix C: Questionnaire................................................70Appendix D: Selected Field Notes.......................................75
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