Cross-cultural surveys of adolescent health and behavior: progress and problems

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_85E3D0F9CE42
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Review (review): journal as complete as possible of one specific subject, written based on exhaustive analyses from published work.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Cross-cultural surveys of adolescent health and behavior: progress and problems
Journal
Social Science and Medicine
Author(s)
Michaud  P. A., Blum  R. W., Slap  G. B.
ISSN
0277-9536 (Print)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
11/2001
Volume
53
Number
9
Pages
1237-46
Notes
Journal Article
Review --- Old month value: Nov
Abstract
Adolescent health surveys administered in different countries or regions often are described as cross-cultural. Although most include youth of different ethnic and cultural groups, few attempt to define these constructs or to collect data that allow their characterization. This paper explores four challenges shared by large-scale surveys of adolescent health-related behaviors and beliefs. First, adolescent health investigators have used the terms culture and ethnicity loosely. The growing interest in contextual analysis demands standardization of the definitions as they apply to adolescents, followed by correct usage of the terms. Hypotheses regarding the associations between race, ethnicity, culture, health-related behaviors, and health outcomes should be clearly stated and incorporated into conceptual models. Second, cross-cultural analyses are interpretable only when the study designs and sampling methods provide adequate representation of cultural and ethnic minorities and when the survey items allow differentiation of factors related to race, ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomic factors. Third, cross-cultural research may expose traditions, beliefs, and behaviors that are supported by one population yet criticized by another. Investigators must recognize their own personal biases and must work collaboratively to analyze and interpret their data correctly. Fourth, generalizations about cultural/ethnic comparisons can evoke powerful emotional reactions. Interpretation and dissemination of research findings should be done sensitively and with the help of experts from the cultural/ethnic groups that have been studied.
Keywords
Adolescent *Adolescent Psychology Attitude to Health/*ethnology Cross-Cultural Comparison Health Behavior/*ethnology *Health Surveys Humans Reproducibility of Results
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
25/01/2008 13:22
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:45
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