Year:
Applicant:
Institution:
Email:
shahin.shooshtari@umanitoba.ca
Project ID:
150511
Approved Project Status:
Project Summary
Canada is an ethnically diverse country, with over 200 ethnic origins represented. People who come from different countries of origin have different life styles, and life experiences than those who were born in Canada, which may promote, or impede their healthy aging. In this study we will explore whether people from different ethnic backgrounds have different perceptions of what constitutes healthy aging. We will also examine if the factors that predict healthy aging differ for people from different ethnic backgrounds. Understanding ethno-cultural differences in individuals’ perceptions of healthy aging and factors associated with these perceptions may allow for the development of new and innovative interventions for persons who are at greater risk of aging in poorer health.
Project Findings
Our study set out to examine how Canadians define healthy aging and to explore if there are ethnocultural differences in the definition of healthy aging. The study compared perceptions of healthy aging by ethnocultural background and explored if determinants of healthy aging differ by ethnocultural background.
We found that themes related to “lifestyle”, “physical activity”, and “attitude” were the three most common healthy aging themes. The “lifestyle” theme consists of sub-themes such as nutrition (e.g., eating well, healthy diets, eating in moderation), no smoking, drinking in moderation, and healthy lifestyle choices (e.g., getting lots of sleep/rest, taking care of one’s health). Physical activity included themes such as keeping physically fit/working out, keeping physically active, and participating in sports. Although themes related to lifestyle, physical activity, and attitude were consistently the three most common, variations by ethnocultural background were found for other healthy aging themes.
Secondly, in comparing the perception of healthy aging by ethnocultural background, we found that ratings of healthy aging did not significantly differ by ethnocultural background.
Finally, in exploring if determinants of healthy aging differ by ethnocultural background, we found that the determinants of healthy aging did, indeed, vary by respondents’ ethnocultural background.
