Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Shreve, Marilou

Committee Member

Hammig, Bart

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the research is to understand the perceptions of Marshallese adolescents on the topic of health and weight, in order to provide guidance for interventions and public health efforts. The United States has the largest Marshallese population outside the Marshall Islands. Perceptions of weight and health is under researched for minority communities and from the insight of adolescents. Pacific Islanders such as the Marshallese are often categorized as part of the larger Asian American ethnic population, which is not always accurate in certain aspects where public health could provide support areas of concern.

Design: Focus groups of adolescents who identified as Marshallese from the ages of 10-17 were arranged into 2 groups based on age, 10-13 and 14-17 respectively. Respective groups participated in focus group discussion interviews (n=32) and then completing a survey (n=32) based on questions regarding health and obesity. Focus group discussion interviews were recorded and analyzed for themes. The survey results were recorded and analyzed. The interview and survey themes were compared and examined for correlations.

Results: Common themes for an individual considered healthy included balanced diet and physical activity. Majority of adolescents that participated in the survey concluded they believed they were healthy (66%). When asked to categorize themself, most participants (59%) categorized themself as “slightly overweight”. The participants contributed many of the same factors to why an individual would be considered unhealthy to why an individual would be overweight. When the question “who is responsible for your health?” was phrased, all focus groups had multiple participants agree individuals are responsible for their own health. Yet adolescents did not identify a specific age in which responsibility occurs, but answers varied between 10-16 years of age. The participants were also asked if they believed if it is important to be healthy as a teenager. Perceptions of Health and Weight status were found statistically significant for the overall group of adolescents in Chi-Square and Fisher Tests.

Discussion: Adolescents in the Marshallese community view weight as a proponent of overall health. Overall health was recognized as fluid due to the many proponents such as exercise, diet, and hygiene that affect health outcomes. To understand at what value of the BMI scale constitutes as unhealthy would further promote education.

Keywords

Health Perceptions; Adolescent Perceptions; Health and Obesity

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