Association Between Acculturation Modes and Type 2 Diabetes Among Native Hawaiians
- Joseph Keawe‘aimoku Kaholokula, PHD12,
- Andrea H. Nacapoy3,
- Andrew Grandinetti, PHD24 and
- Healani K. Chang, DPH256
- 1Department of Native Hawaiian Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
- 2Native Hawaiian Health Research Project, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
- 3Department of Psychology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
- 4Department of Public Health Sciences and Epidemiology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
- 5Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
- 6Division of Ecology and Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Joseph Keawe‘aimoku Kaholokula, PhD, Department of Native Hawaiian Health, 651 Ilalo St., MEB 307-H, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. E-mail: kaholoku{at}hawaii.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE—To examine the association between acculturation modes (integrated, assimilated, traditional, and marginalized) and type 2 diabetes prevalence in Native Hawaiians.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Cross-sectional data were analyzed from 495 Native Hawaiians, including acculturation modes, diabetes status, triglycerides, fasting insulin, BMI, age, and education level. Acculturation modes were assessed using an eight-item cultural affiliation questionnaire.
RESULTS—Native Hawaiians in a traditional mode of acculturation were more likely to have type 2 diabetes (27.9%) than those in integrated (15.4%), assimilated (12.5%), or marginalized (10.5%) modes.
CONCLUSIONS—The higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Native Hawaiians in a traditional mode of acculturation could not be attributed to any of the sociodemographic or biological factors included in this study. We discuss the role of psychosocial factors as possible mediators in the relationship between acculturation modes and type 2 diabetes.
Footnotes
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Published ahead of print at http://care.diabetesjournals.org on 17 January 2008. DOI: 10.2337/dc07-1560.
The ideas and opinions in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect those of the institutions that supported this research.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
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- Accepted January 8, 2008.
- Received August 7, 2007.
- DIABETES CARE
