Cultural identity and health lifestyles among African Americans: a new direction for health intervention research?

Assessment of the relationship between African-American cultural and personal identity variables and socio-economic status (SES) and healthy lifestyle

In nutrition education research, 333 African Americans from 40 to 70 years old were studied. Cultural identity of African American (15 points from 1 [low] to 4 [high]). Two questions about the recognition of success in the white or white lifestyle - both are evaluated as bicultural if "Yes"; personal identity (4 items: self-conceptually attractive, confident Satisfied, Friendly) Score 1 [No / Unknown] or 2 [Yes]) and selected demographics and lifestyle variables

Reflects cultural identity elements related to and related to reference groups of African American culture and bicultural related to high SES, low fat diet, smoking cessation, current drinking, and leisure time high physical activity To (cultural identity only) especially women (P <0.001 to P = 0.06). After SES adjustment, the relevance between cultural identity and physical activity, and both cultural reference group of low-fat diet and smoking cessation (female) remain significant, P <0.05

In contrast to areas that may act as barriers, we need to emphasize cultural identity that is positively related to healthy lifestyles

Obviously, focusing only on health risks does not help to correct the differences in African American health. This is because structural factors are mainly due to poor health results and short life expectancy. Tackling healthy social determinants from poverty, building environment, racial discrimination, violence, imprisonment may have a greater impact on black health than risk mitigation programs. ACA expanded its exposure to African Americans, but the impact of health care for people with unhealthy lifestyles, and access to social and cultural barriers, makes the difference in African American health different .

African Americans are faced with high risk of serious health problems such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and so on. Several studies show that there is a direct link between African-American health problems and unemployment or unemployment issues. One-third of the black population is subject to economic distress and income is below the poverty line. Diseases caused by inadequate meals or inappropriate living environment due to lack of high quality medical care are often more serious - mainly due to insufficient health insurance compensation

Part of the problem is a cultural dispute among African Americans who refused to receive treatment due to lack of African American mental health experts. Only 3.7% of members of the American Psychiatric Association, 1.5% of members of the American Psychological Association are African Americans. What do we need to do before paying close attention to familiar people to make a dangerous signal? And sometimes, when a line of venting or relaxation "hurries" through a girlfriend, boyfriend, family, or social media, why is it considered "ordinary" in our society? Do you correctly identify when the line is, how it can be tolerated, and what will be helpful? In society class inequality can lead to immediate discipline and drug treatment for children - the critics believe that our black community still has cultural and educational separation