Motivation for health screening: evaluation of social influence among Mexican-American adults

Sato Ashida; Anna V Wilkinson; Laura M Koehly

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2009.12.028

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Motivation for health screening: evaluation of social influence among Mexican-American adults

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Motivation for health screening: evaluation of social influence among Mexican-American adults

Sato Ashida, Anna V Wilkinson and Laura M Koehly

American journal of preventive medicine, Vol.38(4), pp.396-402

04/2010

DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.12.028

PMCID: PMC2844878

PMID: 20307808

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Abstract

Americans of Mexican origin are at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between the presence of social network members who encourage screening and individuals' motivation to undergo three types of health screening: blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose. The distinct roles of encouragers from different generations (older, same, and younger) were evaluated. Adults of Mexican origin (N=452) aged 20-75 years from 162 households in Houston TX were included in this cross-sectional study by completing surveys in 2008 regarding their intentions to screen, health behaviors, illness beliefs, social networks, and family health history in either English or Spanish. Data were analyzed in 2009. About one third of the participants reported having at least one same-generation network member who encouraged screening; smaller proportions reported having at least one older- (17% to 19%) and one younger-generation (11% to 12%) encourager. The presence of at least one older-generation encourager was associated with higher levels of intention to screen for all three screenings controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and illness beliefs. Having at least one same-generation encourager was associated with higher levels of intention to screen for blood cholesterol. Social influence may play an important role in motivating individuals to engage in screenings. Network-based intervention involving older individuals to provide encouragement to younger network members should be explored as a means to increase motivation to screen among this population.

Family

Blood Pressure

Age Factors

Blood Glucose - analysis

Cross-Sectional Studies

Mexican Americans - statistics & numerical data

Cholesterol - blood

Humans

Middle Aged

Social Support

Mass Screening - statistics & numerical data

Intergenerational Relations - ethnology

Linear Models

Male

Young Adult

Motivation

Health Behavior - ethnology

Adult

Female

Aged

Mexican Americans - psychology

Texas - epidemiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Motivation for health screening: evaluation of social influence among Mexican-American adults
Creators: Sato Ashida - Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. ashidas@mail.nih.gov
Anna V Wilkinson
Laura M Koehly
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of preventive medicine, Vol.38(4), pp.396-402
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.12.028
PMID: 20307808
PMCID: PMC2844878
NLM abbreviation: Am J Prev Med
ISSN: 0749-3797
eISSN: 1873-2607
Publisher: Netherlands
Grant note: NIH0012812818 / Intramural NIH HHS CA126988 / NCI NIH HHS Z01 HG200335-02 / Intramural NIH HHS Z01 HG200335 / Intramural NIH HHS K07 CA126988-03 / NCI NIH HHS K07 CA126988 / NCI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 04/2010
Academic Unit: Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9984063112902771

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