Acculturation and Physical Activity Among South Asian Mother-Daughter Dyads Residing in the United States: Application of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model.

BACKGROUND

South Asian immigrant women and girls have low physical activity (PA). Little is known about the influence of salient cultural determinants such as acculturation on PA. This knowledge can inform strategies to improve PA in this population.

METHODS

We analyzed baseline data from the South Asians Active Together (SAATH) randomized controlled trial which enrolled mother-daughter dyads. US acculturation and Asian acculturation were measured for mothers and daughters separately using the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (higher scores indicate higher acculturation). PA-related variables include barriers, self-efficacy, self-reported transportation, leisure-time moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and accelerometer-measured MVPA (in minutes/week). Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, we tested dyadic associations between mothers' and daughters' US and Asian acculturation and PA variables.

RESULTS

The SAATH trial included 126 mother-daughter dyads. In Actor-Partner Interdependence Model analyses, for daughters, US acculturation was negatively associated with barriers (β = -0.20, SE = 0.09, P = .022), and higher Asian acculturation was associated with higher self-efficacy (β = 0.18, SE = 0.06, P = .005). For mothers, US acculturation was negatively associated with barriers (β = -0.20, SE = 0.06, P = .001) and positively associated with self-efficacy (β = 0.21, SE = 0.08, P = .013). For mothers, Asian acculturation was negatively associated with barriers (β = -0.24, SE = 0.10, P = .020) and positively associated with self-efficacy (β = 0.36, SE = 0.14, P = .010) and accelerometer-measured MVPA (β = 26.71, SE = 13.0, P = .040). Mothers' Asian acculturation was also positively associated with daughters' self-efficacy (β = 0.16, SE = 0.08, P = .044).

CONCLUSIONS

Observed positive associations of both US and Asian acculturation with several PA-related variables underscore the importance of capturing both types of acculturation. Mothers' Asian acculturation was associated with daughters' PA self-efficacy. Maintaining strong ties to one's heritage may provide benefits for PA of an individual as well as their family members.