• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2003

Over the past few decades, changes in patterns of behavior (e.g., diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity) have led to major changes in health status, characterized by increases in obesity, Type II diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. This epidemiologic transition is largely the result of rapid increases in immigration to developed countries and rural-urban migration within developing countries, which is usually accompanied by environmental and lifestyle changes. In particular, adoption of “Western” dietary patterns, which tend to be high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables, is of concern since diet is a potent contributor to chronic disease risk. However, until recently, the process by which immigrants and rural-urban migrants adopt the dietary practices predominant in their new environments, known as dietary acculturation, has received very little research attention. Dietary acculturation is multidimensional, dynamic, and complex, and varies considerably depending on a variety of personal, cultural, and environmental characteristics. Therefore, to intervene successfully on the negative aspects of dietary acculturation, it is important to understand the process and identify factors that predispose and enable it to occur. The purpose of this article is to provide a practical model for understanding and investigating the effect of dietary acculturation on food and nutrient intake. Thus, this report 1) gives an overview of acculturation, 2) defines dietary acculturation and presents a model for how it occurs, 3) discusses measurement issues around dietary acculturation,4) reviews the literature on dietary acculturation in Korean Americans; 4) suggests a paradigm for acculturation research; and 5) offers some recommendations for future research in this area.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.246-253
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• 2003

With globalization taking place at a rapid speed, more and more people move from one place to another and more people with diverse cultural backgrounds are now living together than ever before. As a result, more people go through the process of acculturation. Dietary acculturation, a part of overall acculturation, is a series of changes that occur in food and nutrient consumption and dietary behaviors. This paper examined dietary acculturation in Korean Americans through a critical literature review. The current diet quality of Korean Americans is fair, and the areas in need of improvement include sodium, calcium, and fiber intakes. Korean Americans had different diet profiles by acculturation status； however, whether dietary acculturation leads to a lower diet quality is not conclusive at this time. This paper also suggests areas that warrant consideration in future research： 1) acculturation measures, 2) dietary measures, 3) possible factors affecting dietary acculturation, 4) health consequences of dietary acculturation, and 5) study design issues. Studying dietary acculturation among immigrants and their offspring is important because it will provide useful insights for designing health and nutrition interventions in both original and new countries. Quality research in dietary acculturation requires collaborations among researchers from different nations because it deals with diverse cultures.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.243-249
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• 2001

This study investigated how acculturation varies with demographic variables and is related to dietary habits among Korean Americans. The respondents were 162 Korea Americans aged at least 18 years old residing in the Greater New York metropolitan area. The level of acculturation was measured using a modified Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation(SL-ASIA) scale. Acculturation was operationally defined to be composed of 6 factors, which are language, media use, friendship, food, pride, and ethnic self-identity. Each factor in the level of acculturation was identified by how it is related to demographics and dietary habits in the method of correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regressions analyses. The reliability of the modified SL-ASIA scale was high as measured by Cronbach alpha of .92. The level of acculturation was related to place of birth, age, length of residence in the U.S., and education. The younger, the longer they had lived in the U.S., and the more they were educated, the more acculturated. Acculturation could be predictable for 52% of its variance with all demographic variables. Among the 6 factors in the level of acculturation, five of them, language, media use friendship, food, and ethnic self-identity were correlated with dietary habit changes after immigration and type of meals. All 6 acculturation factors could predict 21% of change in dietary habits. the information from this study can be used to describe usual describe usual dietary habits according to various aspects of acculturation to better understand the dynamics among acculturation, demographics, and dietary habits.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.158-164
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• 2004

This study was conducted to define dietary patterns and to evaluate the effects of socioeconomic, acculturation and lifestyle factors on dietary patterns among 2,746 Korean- Americans in California. It was a cross-sectional telephone survey based on a representative sampling of individuals with a Korean surname using residential phone listings. It was conducted using a food frequency questionnaire that covered 20 food items, socioeconomic variables such as age, gender, income, education and acculturation, and lifestyle factors such as body weight, alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise and consumption of fast food. Four dietary patterns were identified: American Foods (AF), American Breakfast (AB), Korean Foods (KF) and Vegetables (Ⅴ). AF was associated with younger men, acculturation and fast food consumption. AB was associated with women, higher education, current smoking and fast food consumption. KF was associated with acculturation and lower socioeconomic status. Ⅴ was associated with lifestyle factors such as smoking, exercising and fast food consumption. The results of the study showed that socioeconomic and lifestyle factors influenced the dietary patterns of Korean- Americans. This should be considered when dietary interventions are designed for Korean-Americans to improve their health status.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.594-606
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• 2015

Acculturation may manifest dietary behavioral changes of students from overseas. This study investigated the dietary attitudes, food intakes, and dietary behaviors of 121 Chinese college students residing in Busan, Korea. Using a focus group interview and structured survey, subjects were divided into two groups (SG, LG) based on their self-rated acculturation status. The SG (n=70) and LG (n=51) groups consisted of participants that had resided in Korea for shorter than 18 months versus 18 months or longer, respectively. The SG group was more likely to point out the taste of Korean foods as being too sweet, salty, and spicy but less greasy. A food frequency questionnaire was developed to assess normal intake of Korean ethnic, Chinese ethnic, and common foods. The LG group consumed more Korean foods such as rice cake, dried laver, and radish kimchi but less Chinese foods such as bread glue ball and kidney bean. The LG group consumed more salty and fatty foods and Korean liquors, whereas the SG group consumed more fruits and noodles. Based on the exploratory factor analysis, the SG group showed significantly higher scores for "dietary regularity" but lower scores for "indulgence of unhealthful food" factors. In summation, the LG group became more accustomed to Korean foods and adopted less desirable dietary behaviors compared with the SG group. Findings suggest that the residential period of Chinese college students may be associated with their self-rated acculturation status and food acculturation process, and therefore tailored nutrition education programs are needed to support Chinese students' healthier dietary behaviors and food acculturation process.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2006

This study was conducted to define dietary patterns among 227 Korean American adults and 151 teenagers living in California using frequency of intake of major food groups and to examine associations of dietary patterns with selected demographic and acculturation variables. Three dietary patterns, 'healthful', 'Korean', and 'western', were identified using factor analysis. For both groups, 'healthful' pattern was characterized by high loading on milk/milk products, fruit, fruit juice, and bean/bean products. 'Korean' pattern had high loading on rice and kimchi. 'Western' pattern was characterized by high loading on meat/meat products, soda, and noodle/pasta. Among Korean American adults, women tended to have higher scores of 'healthful' pattern but lower scores of 'western' pattern, while there was no association of 'Korean' pattern with gender. The older adults were likely to have higher 'Korean' pattern score. Length of stay in the US and English levels were negatively associated with 'Korean' pattern. Korean American female adolescents had lower 'western' pattern scores than did male adolescents. Age was inversely associated with 'healthful' pattern in adolescents. The adolescents who had felt more proud of being a Korean descendant had higher scores on 'Korean' dietary pattern. The study findings support that dietary patterns are associated with acculturation variables such as length of residence in the US, English fluency, and particularly pride in ethnicity for adolescents. Further studies are needed to understand associations of dietary patterns and acculturation with health risk of ethnic groups.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.234-245
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate factors related to Chinese female marriage immigrants' dietary adaptation. An in-person survey was conducted by a research institute on Chinese female marriage immigrants married to Korean men, having one child or more aged 1~6 years old, and having resided in Korea for at least 1 year before the survey. Data were collected from 309 respondents comprising 151 Han Chinese and 158 Korean-Chinese during the summer of 2013. About two-thirds of respondents were in their 30s and had resided in Korea for 5 to 10 years. Based on the overall mean score for dietary adaptation level (3.50 out of 5 points), the respondents were classified into two groups: low dietary adaptation group (mean score 3.11) and high dietary adaptation group (mean score 3.81). The results of comparative analysis between the two groups showed that the levels of acculturation (p<0.01) and healthy dietary behavior (p<0.01) for the high dietary adaptation group were significantly higher than those of low dietary adaptation group. The number of respondents of the high dietary adaptation group reporting increased food diversity (p<0.01) and decreased frequency of skipping meals (p<0.01) was significantly higher compare to the low dietary adaptation group. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify factors related to dietary adaptation. General characteristics, levels of acculturation, and healthy dietary behavior were included as independent variables. As a result, levels of acculturation and healthy dietary behavior as well as education level, monthly household income, and length of residence in Korea were associated with dietary adaptation. In conclusion, Chinese female marriage immigrants showing acculturated and healthy dietary behaviors adapted well to Korean dietary life. The results from this study suggest that diet-related adaptation support programs for Chinese female marriage immigrants may positively affect their acculturation and dietary behaviors.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine dietary frequencies among Korean American adolescents in California, including the correlation of acculturation and parental dietary Consumption. This study was drawn from cross-sectional telephone surveys based on data from a larger study of Korean Americans in California using random sampling of residential phone listings. A total of 494 Korean American adolescents, ages 12 through 17, in California were collected with dietary frequencies and acculturation and one parents' demographic and dietary consumption information. Three-quarters of adolescents were classified as 'more acculturated group' into the U.S. society with a lower preference to Korean foods, frequent snacking, and lower consumptions of rice and kimchi. Other quarter of adolescents was classified as 'less acculturated group'. However, the most frequent food items by both groups were rice and kimchi. Fruit and vegetable consumption was associated between adolescents and parents in both groups, but rice and kimchi were associated only among the more-acculturated group. In conclusion, dietary frequencies of Korean American adolescents were influenced by acculturation and parental dietary consumption. These findings should inform future epidemiological researches as well as efforts to enhance the diet of Koreans and other immigrants.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.627-634
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• 2017

This study was performed to provide fundamental data on the dietary life according to the acculturation degree. The subject was 305 Chinese students in South Korea region. The questionnaire respondents are consisted of 148 male students (48.5%) and 157 female students (51.5%). There was a statistically significant difference in age, education level, residence time, and Korean language ability according to acculturation degree (p<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in gender, residence pattern, purpose of coming to Korea. There was a statistically significant difference between meals frequency, outside frequency, and the intake of Chinese food according to acculturation degree (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in snake taking frequency (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in drinks and computer time according to acculturation degree (p<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between smoking and exercise (p>0.05). The food intake style of Chinese students was 2.47 in noodles, 2.34 in lunches and 2.15 in breads. According to the acculturation degree, the food intake patterns showed statistically significant differences in dumping kind, congee, hamburger and pizza, while meat products, smoked meat, noodle, lunch, cereal, kimbap, sandwich. And there was no significant difference. The correlation between the factors influencing the acculturation degree of Chinese students showed a statistically significant effect on dietary habits, food intake, education level, residence period, and Korean language ability.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.310-316
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of acculturation stage on dietary intake of Korean American women (0=124) living in California and to compare the dietary intake with that of Korean women (0=191) in Seoul, Korea. The dietary intake of the subjects was collected by 24-hour recall method at cross-sectional surveys. Ouster analysis performed on immigration variables (e.g., length of residency, age at immigration, etc.) classified Korean American women into less (0=73) or more (n=51) acculturated group. Acculturation stage did not have a significant effect on macro nutrient intake. However, vitamin C intake was higher in the more acculturated group, while intakes of folate, calcium, iron, and zinc were higher in the less acculturated group. In comparison of three groups (the more and the less acculturated Korean American, and the Korean group), the more acculturated the women were, the less frequently they consumed rice and kimchi (p<0.05). Korean American women ate bread/noodle, meat/meat products, fruit juice, and soda more often and consumed vegetables less frequently, compared with Korean women (p<0.05). For breakfast, Western dishes were preferred in both more and less acculturated groups. Korean dishes were favored for dinner by both groups, even though the less acculturated group ate more Korean dishes than did the more acculturated group. The acculturation measured by immigration variables influenced nutrient intakes, food consumptions, and types of dishes eaten in Korean Americans. Cultural and health implications of dietary acculturation need to be studied in the future.