Factors Explaining Seafood Consumption among Hispanics Living in New York City

Abstract

Responses (n = 373) to a bilingual mail survey were used to assess factors explaining seafood consumption in a sample of Hispanics living in New York City, 97% of whom consumed seafood. Multiple regression analysis examined the roles of background characteristics (sociodemographic factors, Hispanic background characteristics, past seafood experience) and beliefs in explaining the variation in three measures of seafood consumption: past 2-week frequency of all seafood and usual monthly consumption of noncanned and canned seafood. Background and belief variables explained more of the variation in consumption than did either type of variable alone for all three measures of consumption. Overall, explanatory factors for the noncanned and canned models differed. Household size was positively associated with all measures of consumption while country of origin was associated with two measures. Beliefs positively related to consumption were that seafood is healthy and nutritious, part of religious and family traditions, familiar to prepare, worth buying, and tastes good. Dislike for odor and touch and the belief that preparing seafood is too much trouble were negatively associated with consumption. Differences in beliefs and past experience were observed among the four main countries of origin represented: United States, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.