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Mediating Role of Acculturation and Lifestyle Behaviors on Cardiometabolic Risk Among a National Sample of U.S. Asian Indians

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Abstract

Asian Indians are the third largest and fastest growing Asian subgroup in the U.S. and have high risks for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study explored the mediating role of lifestyle behaviors on the relationship between acculturation and cardiometabolic risk factors among Asian Indians using the Diabetes in Indian Americans national study. The cross-sectional study sample comprised 1038 randomly selected adult Asian Indians in seven U.S. sites. Acculturation was assessed using the Acculturation Scale for Southeast Asians. Diet and lifestyle behaviors were measured using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II subscales. Path analyses with bootstrap methods were conducted. Dietary behavior significantly mediated the relationship between acculturation and HbA1C (β = 0.004, p = 0.047), and physical activity mediated the relationship between acculturation and HDL (β = 0.08, p = 0.011). Other mediation models were not significant (p > 0.05). Mediating factors besides lifestyle behaviors should be explored in future studies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Markeda Wade, BA, ELS, for editorial assistance. We would also like to thank Stanley Cron, MSPH for assistance with statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Undergraduate Studies, Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6901 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Nitha Mathew Joseph

  2. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506-9190, USA

    Ranjita Misra

  3. School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., MC 7950, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

    Jing Wang

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Mathew Joseph, N., Misra, R. & Wang, J. Mediating Role of Acculturation and Lifestyle Behaviors on Cardiometabolic Risk Among a National Sample of U.S. Asian Indians. J Immigrant Minority Health 22, 727–735 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-019-00930-5

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