The relationship between acculturation, perceived neighborhood disorder, perceived stress, and familism on obesity among Hispanic adolescent females
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Johnson, Shanda.
The relationship between acculturation, perceived neighborhood disorder, perceived stress, and familism on obesity among Hispanic adolescent females. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3D798PXExport
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TitleThe relationship between acculturation, perceived neighborhood disorder, perceived stress, and familism on obesity among Hispanic adolescent females
Date Created2014
Other Date2014-05 (degree)
Extentxvi, 150 p. : ill.
DescriptionThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the independent variables of acculturation, perceived neighborhood disorder, perceived stress, and familism on obesity (waist circumference (WC) and BMI percentile) among adolescent Hispanic females. Additionally, the study tested the relationships between acculturation and perceived stress, and perceived neighborhood disorder and perceived stress. The study also tested the variable familism as a mediator between acculturation and obesity and familism as a moderator between the relationship of perceived neighborhood disorder and obesity. The final convenience sample of 169 senior high school students, aged 14-19 years, was recruited from an urban senior high school in Central, New Jersey. Participants completed a demographic data sheet and four instruments measuring the independent variables. BMI percentile and WC measured obesity. The results indicated that perceived neighborhood disorder (r = .15, p = .03) was positively related to BMI percentile for age and sex. Also, acculturation (r = .39, p < .01) and perceived neighborhood disorder (r = .13, p = .05) were positively related to perceived stress. However, multiple regression analysis showed that the mediation model between perceived neighborhood disorder, familism (mediator), and obesity (WC and BMI percentile) was not supported. Similarly, the regression equation with familism as a moderator between perceived neighborhood disorder and obesity was not supported. Finally, the relationships between acculturation and waist circumference, acculturation and body mass index percentile, acculturation and familism, waist circumference and perceived neighborhood disorder, waist circumference and perceived stress, familism and waist circumference and between familism and BMI percentile were not statistically significant. Based on the study findings, it is concluded that perceived stress and perceived neighborhood disorder were positively related to BMI percentile. Also, waist circumference as a measure of obesity was not supported in any of the hypotheses. Additionally, acculturation and perceived neighborhood disorders were positively related to perceived stress. However, familism did not mediate the relationship between acculturation and obesity or moderate the relationship between perceived neighborhood disorder and obesity. Adolescent obesity is a public health issue. More research is need to determine variables that predict obesity in this age group.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
NoteIncludes vita
Noteby Shanda Johnson
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - Newark Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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