FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE DIET AND EXERCISE EXPERIENCES OF IMMIGRANT MEXICAN WOMEN.
Contributors: University of California, San Francisco.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 274
Subjects: Women's Studies.; Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study describes the factors that influence the cardiovascular (CVD)-related diet and exercise experiences.of married immigrant Mexican women (IMW) with children. Semi-structured taped interviews elicited qualitative data on the diet and exercise experiences of this sample, which were analyzed using grounded theory procedures. The structured interview elicited cardiovascular disease (CVD) related diet and exercise knowledge, behaviors, beliefs, and risk factors, which were analyzed statistically. The body mass index was used for defining weight status and the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to determine the distribution of body fat and, therefore, the increased risk to develop heart disease. The physical fitness status was determined by the National Council of Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) three-minute step-test.

This study was guided by a feminist perspective that considered roles, social support, and environment-related concepts as relevant for the health of IMW. This perspective valued health promotion behaviors from the perceptions and lived experiences of women, and underscored issues of ethnicity, age, education, employment, and class.

The nonprobability and purposive sample consisted of 51 IMW aged 21 to 40 years and who lived in Santa Clara county. All interviews were conducted and analyzed in Spanish. The mean age of the participants was 28 years (SD 5). Participants had very limited knowledge regarding saturated fat and cholesterol, and very good knowledge regarding exercise. However, the majority (76%) did not exercise regularly and were not physically fit. According to the WHR, 41% (21) of the women were at an increased risk of developing heart disease. Fifty-six percent of the sample had a BMI greater than 26.0.

Qualitative data suggest that IMW diet and exercise practices were hampered by a socio-cultural disempowering process that limits the women's options to promote their own health. Women described a process of assessing and developing strategies that unfolded in transcending strategies to engage in diet and exercise behaviors.

This study found that in addition to cognitive-behavioral variables, there are other socio-cultural factors, such as women's roles and social support structures, that are critical in describing the diet and exercise behaviors of IMW.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-01, Section: A, page: 0379.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, 1994.

School code: 0034.