Acculturation and Ethnic-Minority Health Behavior: A Test of the Operant Model.

Objective: The Operant Model of Acculturation predicts that health behaviors that have a low prevalence (< 20%) among Traditional (low-acculturated) minorities increase in prevalence with acculturation and hence have a higher prevalence among their Acculturated counterparts. Alternatively, health behaviors that have a high prevalence (> 45%) among Traditional minorities decrease with acculturation and thereby have a lower prevalence among their acculturated cohorts. The purpose of this study was to test this model for the first time. Design: Data on the 7,249 Mexican American adults in the 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), a statewide, random-digit-dial telephone survey, were used. Main Outcome Measures: Two proxies for acculturation (nativity, language spoken at home) were predictors in analyses of cigarette smoking, exercise, and 5 + daily fruit/vegetable consumption. Results: For all three health behaviors, results were fully supportive of the Operant Model irrespective of acculturation-proxy and demographic variables. Conclusion: The Operant Model may provide a coherent framework for predicting and understanding the role of acculturation in ethnic minority health behavior. Findings are discussed in terms of tailoring and targeting interventions in a manner consistent with the acculturation-related changes in health behavior that are likely to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]