Obesity, Acculturation, and Perceived Stress in Meskhetian Turk (Ahiska) Immigrants in the United States

Yıl 2022, Cilt: 24 Sayı: 4, 1512 - 1525, 29.12.2022

Zekeriya Temircan

https://doi.org/10.32709/akusosbil.1031652

Öz

Acculturation is defined as adaptation within a new and different society. Acculturation has effects on both physical and mental health of immigrants. The aim of the study is to examine the acculturation, perceived stress, and obesity behaviors of Meskhetian immigrants living in America. In the study conducted with the participation of 109 Ahıska Turkish participants, the predictive factors of obesity, acculturation and perceived stress were measured. Obtained data were analyzed with SPSS program using independent sample t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and regression tests. As a result of the analyzes, it was found that there was no statistically significant relationship between obesity and age, gender, socio-economic status, physical activity, acculturation, and perceived stress. However, the findings revealed a significant relationship between daily consumption of vegetables, fruits and hamburgers, cheeseburgers or meatballs and obesity. In addition, weekly vegetable consumption, monthly hamburger, cheeseburger, or meat consumption were found to be significantly associated with moderate/morbid obesity. The findings are discussed in terms of their contribution to understanding the psychological disorders and eating habits that affect the health of minority and immigrant groups in the USA because of acculturation.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Acculturation, obesity, perceived stress, nutrition, Meskhetian Turk immigrants

Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’ndeki Ahıska Türk Göçmenlerinde Obezite, Kültürleşme ve Algılanan Stres

Öz

Kültürleşme, yeni ve farklı bir toplum içinde adaptasyon sağlama olarak tanımlanır. Kültürleşmenin göçmenlerin hem fiziksel hem de ruhsal sağlığı üzerinde etkileri bulunmaktadır. Çalışmanın amacı Amerika’da yaşayan Ahıska göçmenlerinin kültürleşme, algıladıkları stress ve obezite davranışlarını incelemektir. 109 Ahıska Türk katılımcının katılımı ile gerçekleştirilen çalışmada, katılımcılarda obezitenin yordayıcı faktörleri ile kültürleşme ve algıladıkları stress ölçülmüştür. Elde edilen veriler bagımsız örneklem t-test, ANOVA, Pearson korelasyon ve regresyon testleri kullanılarak SPSS programı ile analiz edilmiştir. Analizlerin sonucunda obezite ile yaş, cinsiyet, sosyo-ekonomik durum, fiziksel aktivite, kültürleşme ve algılanan stres arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ilişkiler olmadığı bulunmuştur. Ancak bulgular günlük sebze, meyve ve hamburger, çizburger veya köfte tüketimi ile obezite arasında anlamlı ilişki ortaya koymuştur. Bunun yanında haftalık sebze tüketiminin, aylık hamburger, çizburger veya et tüketiminin orta/morbid obezite ile anlamlı bir ilişkisi olduğu görülmüştür. Bulgular, kültürleşmenin sonucu olarak ABD'deki azınlık ve göçmen grupların sağlığını etkileyen psikolojik rahatsızlıkların ve yeme alışkanlıklarının anlaşılmasına yönelik katkıları bakımından tartışılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kültürleşme, obezite, algılanan stress, beslenme, Ahıska Türk göçmenleri

Kaynakça

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