Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-9-2024
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Integrated Marketing Communication
First Advisor
Kristen Swain
Second Advisor
Marquita Smith
Third Advisor
Alex Langhart
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
This capstone honors project aims to investigate the influence of cultural backgrounds on the healthcare behaviors of Asian American and Caucasian college students. The main research question of this focus group study is: “How do cultural backgrounds influence healthcare behaviors, including communication, seeking, and access to sexual and reproductive health, information, and services, among Asian American and Caucasian female college students?”
Drawing upon the World Health Organization’s 2003 Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework, this study explores how structural determinants, social networks, cultural backgrounds, and healthcare systems factors collectively influence the way female college students communicate, seek, and have access to sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) information and services. The SDOH framework informed the development of a focus group protocol that explored the complex interplay of socioeconomic, cultural, and systemic factors that underlie disparities across women’s experiences in healthcare settings. The research also explores concepts including cultural models of illness, cultural competence theory, and health disparities.
Using the qualitative constant comparative analysis method, this study draws insights from two moderated focus group discussions involving 20 Asian American and 20 Caucasian female University of Mississippi students between the ages of 18 and 24.
The findings of this honors capstone project highlighted the significant role cultural beliefs, parental influence, and social determinants play in shaping the SRH perceptions and behaviors of both Asian American and Caucasian female college students. Distinct differences were observed between these groups, emphasizing the need for tailored healthcare communication and services to address cultural and individual requirements effectively.
In conclusion, the study promotes both equitable healthcare access and effective patient-physician communications by recognizing the influence of cultural background. It serves as a critical step toward fostering a more inclusive healthcare environment where individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds can access healthcare services and information without barriers. Ultimately, every individual regardless of ethnicity or cultural background, should have equal opportunities to benefit from inclusive healthcare services.
Recommended Citation
Ly, Emilee, "Exploring the Cultural Influences on Sexual and Reproductive Health Behaviors: A Cross-Cultural Study of Asian American and Caucasian Female College Students" (2024). Honors Theses. 3073.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3073