Abstract:

Objective: The migration movement from Russia to Antalya is predominantly women and children. The aim of this research was to compare the healthy lifestyle behaviors of Russian women residing in Antalya and their primary school children with their Turkish peers. Methods: This is descriptive comparative research. The study with a purposive sample method included students in grades 1-8 of one private Russian primary school and their mothers, as well as students from three private Turkish schools in the same region and their mothers to ensure similarity. 122 Turkish and 76 Russian mothers and child couples participated in the study. Russian women and Turkish peers completed Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The Nutritional Behavior Scale and the Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (CPAQ) were fulfilled by children. Results: Russian women were better healthy lifestyle behaviors than Turkish peers in health responsibility (z=-3,91; p<.05), physical activity (z=-3.13; p<.05), nutrition (z=-6.36, p<.05), and interpersonal relations (z=-2.98, p<.05). Russian children consume more healthy food than their Turkish peers (z=-3.53, p<.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean CPAQ total score of Turkish and Russian children (z=-1.32, p>.05). Conclusion: Russian women had higher indicators of a healthy lifestyle and physical activity level than Turkish women. Russian children were consuming more healthy foods than Turkish peers. Also, there was a positive relationship between the health behavior of children and their mothers. The effect of cultural background on the lifestyle behaviors of women and children should be examined in more detail.

Keywords: