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    Cross-cultural differences and acculturation in affective response and sensory perception: a case study across Chinese immigrants and local consumers in New Zealand
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2025-01) Dupas de Matos A; Chen A; Maggs R; Godfrey AJR; Weerawarna N R P M; Hort J
    Understanding cross-cultural variation in perception is essential for identifying culture-specific factors impacting product acceptability. While immigrants may initially maintain their preferences, acculturation levels vary. To understand to what extent immigrants can be used as a proxy to model overseas markets, this study investigated short (CHS) and long-term (CHL) Chinese immigrant responses to plain yoghurts compared to New Zealand (NZ) Europeans (E). Three groups (CHS, CHL and NZE, n = 222) evaluated liking of, emotional response to, and sensory perception of 10 plain yoghurts. Groups liked yoghurts similarly. Notably, NZE rated emotions lower than both immigrant groups, with a few exceptions. Both Chinese groups rated most emotions similarly, but CHL rated some closer to NZE. Positive emotions correlated with higher liking scores. However, cross-cultural differences existed for ‘guilty’ which was associated with yoghurts liked by NZE; and for ‘wild’ and ‘mild’ associated with yoghurts disliked by both immigrant groups. Citation proportions for some sensory attributes differed among all groups, dependent on the sample. But level of acculturation between immigrant groups was limited. Sweetness, vanilla, stone fruit and cream flavours, smoothness, and creaminess drove liking across all groups, whereas only the Chinese valued umami, undoubtedly due to positive associations with it. Some effects of acculturation for long-term immigrants were evident, but responses were often closer to their short-term counterparts. Therefore, immigrants in general provide a useful proxy for measuring consumer responses in early stages of product development for this overseas market, but with consideration of their residence time in the host culture.
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    Work experiences of Chinese migrants : impact on family wellbeing : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Human Resource Management at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Tian, Hui
    Immigration has rapidly increased throughout the world, especially from developing to developed countries. Through immigration, most people are searching for better career opportunities, better economic outcomes, and a pleasant environment. For a relatively long time, Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand are ranked as the top popular destinations. New Zealand is renowned as a country of immigrants, and the numbers entering are increasing annually. While Europeans used to dominate the early waves of immigration, more recently, especially after the commencement of the points system for skilled migrants, more people are coming from Asian countries, such as China, Korea, Southeast Asia, and India. China, in particular, had been a significant contributor to the inflow of migrants to New Zealand. The Chinese workforce is becoming a critical part of the current labor market in New Zealand (Badkar &Tuya, 2010). Unlike many other Asian countries, those from mainland China do not have English as a key language, which has been the top barrier for Chinese migrants’ employment and settlement in New Zealand. Underemployment has become a collective experience for many Chinese migrants throughout New Zealand. The current study replicated a study that examined the work experiences of Asian immigrants in New Zealand (Sobrun-Maharaj, Rossen, & Kim, 2011), with some changes that have been made. To conduct this research, a 30-45mins qualitative semi-structured interview was undertaken with each participant and were content analyzed. The results showed that a large portion of new Chinese migrants was experiencing underemployed or have the experience of being underemployed. The experience of underemployment has generated many negative effects on their psychological and physical health. Besides, those adverse effects may not only constraint on an individual level but also extend to their families and the social context of their families. However, many factors may have an impact on how people value and adjust to the status of underemployment, such as previous working experience, their motivation for immigration, which may either weaken or even eliminate those negative impacts. The current study hoped to get a whole picture of the impact of underemployment of new Chinese migrants in the Auckland labor market on their family wellbeing. It had provided significant implications for new migrants, employers, communities, government, and further researchers. Even though the underemployment of new migrants is not a new topic, there is still a broad-scale research agenda need to study. More rigorous design and complex models should be applied for future studies. Longitudinal research designs, as well as family studies, can also be designed to examine the broader and more prolonged effects of underemployment.
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    Health status and dietary intakes of elderly Mainland Chinese in Auckland : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutritional Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2003) Xie, Wei
    Objective: To produce baseline data on the food consumption patterns, dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements and physical activities of Mainland Chinese elderly over 60 years living in Auckland, and reveal any changes in these measurements after immigration. The impacts on health status were assessed. Subjects: Twenty-five men and twenty-five women aged over 60 years, who were born in Mainland China and have immigrated to New Zealand. Method: Three 24-hour recalls were used to evaluate dietary intake. Questionnaires were pre-tested before survey, and were used to determine the demographic details, eating habits, food consumption patterns, life style and physical activity patterns. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, height, skinfolds, elbow breadth, body circumferences, blood pressure, blood glucose level, body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio, arm muscle circumference, arm muscle area, and percentage body fat were also calculated. Results: • Because of the language barrier the use of New Zealand health services, such as visiting a general practitioner, was low. • On average BMI in men (24.5kg/m2) was lower than that in women (24.8kg/m2). Men also had larger waist circumferences than women, but they had similar hip circumferences. Thus, men had a larger waist/hip ratio (0.87) than women (0.84) (p<0.05). Men and women had similar mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures (130.5mmHg, 83.8mmHg vs. 130.5mmHg, 81mmHg), however, men's mean blood glucose level were higher than women's (6.0mmol/l vs. 5.5mmol/l). • According to the WHO BMI standards, 48% of male and 52% of female subjects in the present study were considered overweight. Only one man had impaired glucose tolerance. BIA readings indicated 60% of men and 64% of women had a percentage body fat over 25% and 32% respectively. • Using the criteria in the New Zealand Health Survey, 64% of male subjects and 44% of female subjects were highly active compared to 53.8% of their New Zealand counterparts. • In this study, the average energy intakes of Chinese elderly were 8,932kJ and 7,032kJ for men and women respectively. Average protein per kilogram of body weight intakes were 1.24g/kg and 1.21g/kg for men and women. Mean total energy from protein was 15.8% and 17.2% for men and women respectively. Of all study subjects, 88% had fat intakes between 15% and 33% of total energy, which met the New Zealand Nutrition Taskforce recommendation. Total mean energy from carbohydrate for the male and female subjects were 55% and 54.7% respectively. • Compared to the Chinese RDA's and Australia RDI's, the intakes of calcium, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin D were insufficient. All subjects also had insufficient dietary selenium according to the Australia RDIs. Their iron status requires further research. • Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and blood glucose levels in male study subjects were positively correlated with BMI. Body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio and BMI for men were also positively correlated with systolic blood pressure. However, no significant correlations were observed for female subjects. • Education level was positively related to rice consumption and vitamin A intake, and negatively related to meat intake, salted vegetable intake, salt intake and sodium intakes for both men and women. Family income was positively related to meat consumption. Therefore, socio-economic status may influence the food habits and nutrient intakes of the study subjects. Conclusion: • A trend towards increasing BMI and body fat has been found in a Chinese elderly population in New Zealand. The maintenance of traditional dietary habits and encouragement to increase physical activity levels are important in this population group. • Energy, protein and carbohydrate intakes of the Chinese elderly were sufficient. Inadequate intakes of calcium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, selenium and fiber were the main nutritional problems in this group. Therefore, foods rich in these nutrients should be recommended for the migrant Chinese elderly. Some nutrient supplements may be necessary. Dietary intakes should be monitored with time. • Socioeconomic factors, such as education and family income, affect food habits and nutrient intakes in this population.
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    Harmonisation of the self : narratives of older Chinese about ageing, health and wellbeing : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Health Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2014) Tse, Siu-Chun Cannis
    The older population in New Zealand is increasingly culturally and ethnically diverse. While the New Zealand Government has acknowledged that these diverse groups of older people have their specific ageing processes, needs and expectations, there is a paucity of research conducted to understand their ageing lives and experiences. This research seeks to explore the experiences of ageing among older Chinese migrants through the lens of subjective wellbeing. Specifically, it looks into older Chinese migrants’ experiences of happiness, struggles and challenges while they are ageing in New Zealand. Particular consideration is given to the role the self plays in the creation, restoration and preservation of a sense of happiness in old age. In-depth narrative interviews were conducted with fourteen older Chinese migrants from diverse backgrounds. The analysis was informed by the dialogical self theory, Chinese philosophical perspectives of yin/yang and harmony, Chinese conceptions of happiness and the self and narrative methodology to focus on the dynamics of the self, through which a theoretical link between the self and human experience of happiness is developed. The results indicate several factors that could enhance or undermine the participants’ ability to live happy and satisfying lives. The enhancing factors included: the natural environment, social welfare, health, wellbeing of the offspring, and family, ethnic community and social supports. The potential hindering factors were: language barriers, transportation problems, crimes, and inadequate healthcare services. The central findings reveal that happiness is a function of the harmonious interplay and balance of different aspects (I-positions) of the self within a dynamic, complex and ongoing process of dialogical negotiation. Three prominent pairs of I-positions, including the “independent” and the “interdependent” positions, “xiao wo” (the private and individuated self) and “da wo” (the large self) positions, and the “devoted” and the “affirmed” positions, were identified. Examples from three cases show that happiness may be attained when these self-positions interact with each other in harmony. The research also illustrates that happiness is dependent upon the individual reaching a balance among mind, body and surrounding environments. Furthermore, happiness is dependent upon the balanced dynamic interplay between individual agency and the social structures of changing contexts and situations.