Acculturation and Diet Among Chinese American Immigrants in New York City. Issue 1 (6th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kirshner, Lindsey; Yi, Stella S; Wylie-Rosett, Judith; Matthan, Nirupa R; Beasley, Jeannette M
• Is Part Of: Current developments in nutrition. Volume 4:Issue 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2019-11-06
• Subjects: diet quality -- Chinese Americans -- acculturation -- urban health -- dietary acculturation; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutrition; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 612.3
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzz124
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-2991

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: There are limited data on the social and cultural determinants of dietary intake in Chinese Americans. Over 560, 000 New York City residents are Chinese American, and there has been a growing trend over the past 30 y of permanent migration from China to the USA. Objectives: The purpose of this secondary data analysis is to describe associations between diet, measured by self-report, and diet quality, with level of acculturation in a cross-sectional sample of urban-dwelling Chinese American immigrants. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 2071 foreign-born Chinese American adults. Acculturation was assessed using the Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale, diet using a Chinese-adapted FFQ, and diet quality using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI). Multivariable regression was used to assess associations between ethnic (ESI; Chinese) and dominant (DSI; American) society immersion scores with self-reported dietary measures. Results: No significant associations were found between acculturation and overall AHEI score. Higher ESI and DSI scores were associated with higher vegetable, fruit, and nut/legume scores; a higher DSI score only was associated with higher whole grain and PUFA scores. A 1-unit increase in the ESI score was associated with a 0.005 ( P = 0.009) lower red and processed meat component score, whereas a 1-unit increase in DSI score was associated with a 0.01 ( P = 0.025) higher red and processed meat component score. Conclusions: Assessment of acculturation level may help to tailor dietary strategies that are appropriate to what Chinese American immigrant communities are consuming to more effectively decrease the risk of chronic disease.