Predictors of physical activity and healthy eating of Korean adults in the United States

Understanding predictors of health behaviors, especially in the context of culture is essential in order to develop culturally appropriate interventions for minority immigrant populations. To do this, the researcher examined factors impacting physical activity and healthy eating, and their relationship in Korean American adults, guided by the Health Promotion Model (HPM; Pender et al., 2006). Also, physical activity and eating habits of Korean American adults were measured and compared with those of other populations, both other immigrants and the US general population.;A convenience sample of 517 Korean adults aged 18 and older participated in either English or Korean survey. The researcher evaluated the psychometric properties of the measures in this population and conducted sophisticated analyses with a variety of statistics. While some factors influencing these health behaviors are similar to other populations, other factors are identified that can be used to develop interventions specifically for the Korean American population.;The findings indicate that Korean American adults are physically inactive and have poor eating habits. Most of the measures and constructs used for the current study are helpful in understanding physical activity and healthy eating in Korean American adults. However, further research is recommended for developing or refining some measures in Korean American adults. Also, further investigation including samples from several geographic areas and using longitudinal study design is necessary for verifying the results of the current study.;In addition, model testing is needed to affirm the propositions of the HPM in Korean American adults or an alternate model that can better explain physical activity and healthy eating in Korean Americans may need to be developed. Further studies on the influence of acculturation, health, and the behavior-specific cognitions in the HPM in Korean Americans or other ethnic populations will continue to build an understanding of these complex issues.