A Cross-National Comparison of Healthfulness of Lifestyles Using the Lifestyle Index (LI): China and the United States

Kim, Soowon. (2002). A Cross-National Comparison of Healthfulness of Lifestyles Using the Lifestyle Index (LI): China and the United States. Master's thesis / Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Citation:

Kim, Soowon. (2002). A Cross-National Comparison of Healthfulness of Lifestyles Using the Lifestyle Index (LI): China and the United States. Master's thesis / Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Abstract:

Promoting a healthy lifestyle is the essence of improving public health. Whereas most health research has focused on the role of individual lifestyle factors, diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption on health outcomes, understanding of these behaviors as a total lifestyle has been limited. To better understand the lifestyle behaviors from a broader perspective, this research conducted a cross-national comparison of total lifestyles, using national data from China and the U.S. In order to provide a meaningful comparison, this study first created a comprehensive measure of healthfulness of lifestyle (the Lifestyle Index, LI) that can be used as a monitoring and education tool across countries, incorporating global issues related to the four key lifestyle factors. The LI, including a composite measure of diet quality, was successful in capturing variability in healthfulness of lifestyles. The mean of the LI score was slightly higher in China than in the U.S. Dietary variety was apparent in the U.S. diet, whereas moderation and overall balance of intakes were better achieved in China. The means for the scores of overall diet quality, physical activity, and smoking were higher in China. The mean of alcohol consumption score was higher in the U.S. The comparison of socioeconomic status (SES) related to the healthfulness of the total lifestyle showed a clear, contrasting trend in the likelihood of having healthy lifestyles between China and the U.S. In China, as income and education increased, the odds of having healthier lifestyles decreased significantly, whereas in the U.S., the likelihood increased as income and education levels improved. The use of the LI can help direct public health interventions. The results of this research can also help direct the focus areas of lifestyle and target groups in the intervention activities in each country. The contrasting SES profiles associated with healthy lifestyles between China and the U.S. are thought to be related to the health disparity unequally shown around the world depending on the level of development. Global health promotion efforts should approach population subgroups with a different strategy that considers not only SES but also the country's level of development.

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Reference Type:
THES

Secondary Title:

Series Title:

Author(s):
Kim, Soowon

Editor(s):

Series Author(s):
Popkin, Barry M.

Year Published:
2002

Date Published:

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Volume Number:
3047023

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Start Page Number:
128-128 p.

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Publisher:
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

City of Publication:
Ann Arbor

ISSN/ISBN:
9780493609966; 0493609962

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Reference ID:
1941

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