2019
Acculturation is associated with older Turkish immigrants’ self-management abilities
Publication
Publication
Background: The few previous studies investigating acculturation and self-management have suggested that
increased participation in (or adaptation to) the host culture is associated with better health and disease
management. However, research on the relationship between acculturation strategies (attachment to the Dutch
and Turkish cultures) and broader self-management abilities among older Turkish immigrants in the Netherlands is
lacking. This study aimed to investigate this relationship in this population.
Methods: Turkish immigrants aged > 65 years and residing in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (n = 2350), were
identified using the municipal register. In total, 680 respondents completed the questionnaire (32% response rate).
Results: The average age of the respondents was 72.90 (standard deviation, 5.02; range, 66–95) years and 47.6% of
respondents were women. The majority (80.3%) of respondents reported having low educational levels. Women, single
individuals, less-educated respondents, and those with multimorbidity experienced lower levels of attachment to the
Dutch culture and reported poorer self-management abilities. Slightly stronger relationships were found between selfmanagement
and attachment to the Dutch culture than attachment to the Turkish culture. Multimorbidity negatively
affected the self-management abilities of older Turkish people living in the Netherlands.
Conclusions: The study findings indicate that especially attachment to the Dutch culture matters for the self-management
abilities of older Turkish immigrants in the Netherlands. Given the high prevalence of multimorbidity in this population,
investment in their self-management abilities is expected to be beneficial. Special attention is needed for women, single
individuals, less-educated people, and those with multimorbidity. Interventions aiming to better integrate these groups into
Dutch society are also expected to be beneficial for their self-management abilities.
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doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7471-0, hdl.handle.net/1765/122493 | |
BMC Public Health | |
Organisation | Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) |
Cramm, J., & Nieboer, A. (2019). Acculturation is associated with older Turkish immigrants’ self-management abilities. BMC Public Health. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-7471-0 |