Journal article
Sociodemographic Correlates of Cancer-Related Beliefs Among Chinese Speaking Adults in Greater Philadelphia
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
25 Jul 2025
PMID: 40711714
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Cancer is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Asian community. In the Greater Philadelphia region, people from China form the largest Asian subgroup, and many have limited English proficiency. This study examined cancer beliefs among Chinese-speaking adults and their sociodemographic associations.
Chinese-speaking adults (n=172) completed an online survey in Chinese. Respondents indicated their level of agreement with seven statements regarding beliefs about the causes of cancer, ways to reduce cancer risk, and views of cancer screening. Multivariable linear regression models examined nine sociodemographic factors correlate with cancer beliefs.
Respondents' mean age was 39.8 years old and 62% were female. Multivariable linear regression models found: financial hardship was associated with the belief that individuals cannot lower their chances of getting cancer (p = .043-p=.050), prefer not knowing their cancer risk (p=.042-p=.003), and associating cancer with death (p<.001-p= 0.001). Higher education levels were associated with higher agreement that cancer is caused by personal behaviors (p=.017) and less agreement that when thinking of cancer one thinks of death (p =.017). Respondents born outside of the U.S. (vs. U.S. born) had stronger agreement that personal lifestyles cause cancer (p=.011) and lower agreement that they would rather not know their cancer risk (p=.024). Sexual gender minority status, sex, and employment were significantly associated with one cancer belief statement.
These findings suggest that cancer beliefs among Chinese-speaking adults may vary by sociodemographic characteristics and provide some insights to inform future tailored cancer-related health education and community outreach efforts.
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Details
- Title
- Sociodemographic Correlates of Cancer-Related Beliefs Among Chinese Speaking Adults in Greater Philadelphia
- Creators
- Yawei Song - Thomas Jefferson UniversityMunjireen Sifat - Thomas Jefferson UniversityLilianna Phan - Drexel UniversityJoshua Banks - Thomas Jefferson UniversityRebecca Melillo - Thomas Jefferson UniversityAmy E Leader - Thomas Jefferson University
- Publication Details
- Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- P30CA056036 / NCI NIH HHS R00CA272919 / NCI NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Drexel FIRST (Center for Firefighter Injury Research and Safety Trends); Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001536895000001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105011655412
- Other Identifier
- 991022065642504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health