Cultural determinants of cancer fatalism and cancer prevention behaviors among Asians in Singapore

This research aims to better understand cultural disparities in cancer prevention behaviors. To do this, we investigate how four cultural beliefs - optimism, pessimism, naïve dialecticism, and superstition - associate with cancer fatalism, which has been recognized as a major barrier to cancer preve...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kim, Hye Kyung, Lwin, May Oo
Other Authors: Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/161126
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
Description
Summary:This research aims to better understand cultural disparities in cancer prevention behaviors. To do this, we investigate how four cultural beliefs - optimism, pessimism, naïve dialecticism, and superstition - associate with cancer fatalism, which has been recognized as a major barrier to cancer prevention behaviors. Based on an online survey of 1,021 Singapore residents, the results reveal that cancer fatalism is positively associated with pessimism, naïve dialecticism and superstitions, and associated negatively with optimism. Mediation analyses further reveal that cancer fatalism is a significant mediator between these four cultural beliefs and four cancer prevention behaviors including fruit and vegetable intake, regular exercise, avoidance of smoking, and sunscreen use. This study offers theoretical insights into the understanding of how people develop cancer fatalism and practical guidance on the promotion of cancer prevention behaviors, particularly among Asian populations.