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Differences in Overweight or Obesity, Changes in Dietary Habits after Studying Abroad and Sleep Quality by Acculturative Degree among Asian Foreign Students: A Cross Sectional Pilot Study

Author

Listed:
  • Miae Doo

    (Department of Food and Nutrition, Kunsan National University, Daehak-ro 558, Gunsan 54150, Korea)

  • Chunyang Wang

    (Department of Food and Nutrition, Kunsan National University, Daehak-ro 558, Gunsan 54150, Korea)

Abstract

The number of foreign students is increasing worldwide, and they suffer from acculturation to different environments or cultures. This pilot study examined the difference in overweight or obesity, changes in dietary habits after studying abroad and sleep quality according to acculturative degree among 225 Asian foreign students in South Korea. Most subjects (61.8%) experienced a low acculturative degree. The change in dietary habits after studying abroad showed a significant difference according to the acculturative degree ( p < 0.001); however, there were no differences observed in sleep quality ( p = 0.090) and prevalence of overweight or obesity according to acculturative degree ( p = 0.101). Interestingly, a difference in the risk for being overweight or obese by sleep quality after being stratified into groups according to acculturative degree was observed. Among the groups with a low acculturative degree, subjects reporting poor sleep quality had a 2.875-fold (95% CI = 1.167–7.080) higher risk of being overweight or obese than those reporting good sleep quality. However, the risk of being overweight or obese was not different among the high acculturative group regardless of their sleep quality. The results showed that the degree of acculturation could influence the risk of being overweight or obese according to sleep quality among Asian foreign students.

Suggested Citation

  • Miae Doo & Chunyang Wang, 2022. "Differences in Overweight or Obesity, Changes in Dietary Habits after Studying Abroad and Sleep Quality by Acculturative Degree among Asian Foreign Students: A Cross Sectional Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-9, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5370-:d:804423
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Madhu Sudhan Atteraya, 2021. "Acculturation Stressors and Academic Adjustment among Nepalese Students in South Korean Higher Education Institutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-9, June.
    2. Lu, Ying & Samaratunge, Ramanie & Härtel, Charmine E J, 2016. "Predictors of acculturation attitudes among professional Chinese immigrants in the Australian workplace," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(1), pages 49-67, January.
    3. Zi Yan & Kathleen FitzPatrick, 2016. "Acculturation and health behaviors among international students: A qualitative approach," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(1), pages 58-63, March.
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