Factors Affecting Health-Promoting Lifestyle Behaviors Among Arab American Women

Abstract

Introduction: An estimated 3.6 million Arab Americans live in the United States. Limited studies have addressed Arab American women's health needs. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between personal factors (sociodemographic factors, degree of acculturation, psychological stress), health self-efficacy, social support, and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors among Arab American women in California. Method: A cross-sectional, correlational survey study involved 267 women. The survey assessed women's personal factors, health self-efficacy, social support, and health promotion behaviors. Results: Age, education, orientation to American culture, psychological stress, health self-efficacy, and social support were strongly correlated with health promotion behaviors and explained 46% of its variance among participants, F(18, 248) = 10.657, p = .000, R2 = .46. Discussion: Participants scored low on both the physical activity and stress management of the health promotion subscales. Culturally sensitive interventions are needed to improve engagement in health promotion behaviors among these women.