Acculturated Mexican American Research Articles

24 The Influence of Acculturation in Neuropsychological Test Performance of Hispanic-Americans

Objective:Stephenson (2000) suggested that acculturation is a phenomenon that immigrants and refugees ubiquitously experience. The level of acculturation is impacted by a person’s choice to allow how much of their cultural traits they decide to keep while adapting to the dominant society cultural traits. Depending on what immigrants find to be important or unimportant, it can influence future generations (i.e., their children) in how they will be developed and adapt into a dominant society. Hispanic-Americans are individuals that were born and reside in the United States and have a family background that extends to one of the Spanish speaking countries in Latin America or Spain. The typical language spoken by Hispanic families other than English is Spanish. It has been reported that Hispanics that are capable of speaking English may be afforded better and greater opportunities to resources. Research shows that a person level of acculturation can influence their cognition. In fact, in one study using a Mexican-American sample that was divided into two groups: high and low. Researchers found that highly acculturated Mexican-Americans outperformed lower acculturated Mexican-Americans on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. We evaluated the influence of acculturation in Hispanic-Americans neuropsychological test performance. It was predicted that highly acculturated Hispanic-Americans to American culture would demonstrate better cognitive abilities compared to lower acculturated Hispanic-Americans.Participants and Methods:The present study sample consisted of 75 neurologically and psychologically healthy Hispanic-American undergraduate students with a mean age of 19.44 (SD = 1.37). Participants were divided into two acculturation groups: high (n = 39) and low (n = 36). In addition, all the participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and background questionnaire in English. The Acculturation Rating Scale for Hispanic/Latino Americans is a 20-item scale that was utilized to create our acculturation groups. ANOVAs were used to evaluate cognitive differences between our acculturation groups.Results:Results revealed that the highly acculturated group outperformed the lower acculturated group on the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition vocabulary task and the Boston Naming Test, p’s<.05, n.p’s2=.06. Furthermore, results revealed that the lower acculturated group outperformed the highly acculturated group on the Trail Making Test part A and B, and Comalli Stroop part A, p’s<.05, np’s2=.06-.07.Conclusions:As expected, the highly acculturated group demonstrated better language abilities compared to the lower acculturated group. However, in the opposite direction, the lower acculturated group outperformed the highly acculturated group on several speed attention tasks and one executive functioning task. A possible explanation why the highly acculturated participants demonstrated better language abilities may be attributed that their dominant language is English or they only spoke English. Meanwhile, the opposite could be said for lower acculturated participants that English was not their dominant language or they were bilingual speakers, for that reason they demonstrated better processing speed and executive functioning abilities. Research shows that monolinguals demonstrate better language abilities compared to bilinguals, but the opposite is found on processing speed and executive functioning tasks. Future research should investigate the relationship between bilingualism and acculturation in neuropsychological testing performance of Hispanic-Americans.

Social support modifies the negative effects of acculturation on obesity and central obesity in Mexican men

ABSTRACT Background: This study examined the moderating role of social support in the acculturation-obesity/central obesity relationship in Mexican American (MA) men and women. Methods: Data from NHANES 1999–2008 were used. Acculturation derived from language use, country of birth and length of residence in the U.S. Social support assessed emotional and financial support. BMI (≥30) and waist circumference (≥88 cm for women; ≥102 cm for men) measured obesity and central obesity, respectively. Weighted multivariate logistic regression models were used to describe associations. Results: Compared to less acculturation, more acculturation was associated with higher odds of obesity (ORs 2.48; 95% CI 1.06–5.83) and central obesity (2.90; 1.39–6.08) among MA men with low/no social support, but not among MA men reporting high social support. The modifying effects was not observed among women. Conclusion: Higher amounts of social support appeared to attenuate the risk of obesity/central obesity associated with acculturation. Interventions enhancing social support maybe effective among acculturated MAs, particularly among men.

Role of Age and Acculturation in Diet Quality Among Mexican Americans — Findings From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2012

Age and acculturation may play a role in diet quality among Mexican Americans. This study examined diet quality in Mexican Americans by age and whether acculturation influences diet quality across different age groups, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Diet quality, measured by the Healthy Eating Index 2010, improved with age except in categories of dairy, sodium, and refined grains. More acculturation was associated with lower scores in overall diet quality and categories of vegetables, fruits, and sodium and empty calories across almost all ages, but higher scores in grain categories, especially in younger groups. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables but low in fat and sodium should be promoted among more acculturated Mexican Americans, and whole-grain foods should be promoted among young but less acculturated Mexican Americans.

Neuroticism, acculturation and the cortisol awakening response in Mexican American adults

Neuroticism is associated with greater susceptibility to the adverse effects of stress and greater exposure to the stressors associated with acculturation in U.S. born Mexican Americans. Neuroticism and acculturation have been associated with injury to crucial stress response systems and are known risk factors for certain mood and anxiety disorders. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of neuroticism, and acculturation on the cortisol awakening response (CAR) in healthy Mexican-American adults. Salivary cortisol samples were collected at awakening and 30, 45, and 60 min thereafter, on two consecutive weekdays from 59 healthy Mexican American adult males (26) and females (33), ages 18 to 38 years. Participants were assessed for level of neuroticism and acculturation. Data were analyzed using a mixed effects regression model with repeated measures at four time points. Results showed a significant Neuroticism × Acculturation × Time interaction. The CAR was virtually eliminated in highly acculturated Mexican Americans with greater Anglo orientation and high neuroticism compared with less acculturated Mexican Americans with greater Mexican orientation and lower neuroticism. Findings suggest that some Mexican Americans with high levels of neuroticism may be particularly susceptible to certain challenges and stressors associated with acculturation leading over time to the development of allostatic load, desensitization of the Hypothalamic CRF system and attenuation of the CAR.

Acculturation and HPV infection among Latinas in the United States

ObjectiveTo describe the relationship between acculturation and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among diverse US Latinas, a group at high risk for cervical cancer. MethodsUsing survey and medical testing data from the 2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we examined the relationship between acculturation level and HPV infection among diverse Latinas (n=503) and Mexican American women (n=442). Multivariable logistic regression was performed using infection with any type of HPV and with high-risk oncogenic genotypes as outcome variables. ResultsMore acculturated Mexican American women were more likely to be infected with high-risk HPV than less acculturated women. In multivariate analyses, Mexican Americans with higher levels of self-rated English language ability (2.48 OR, 95% CI: 1.42–4.33); with birth in the US (2.07 OR, 95% CI: 1.03–4.16); and with US born parents (2.98 OR, 95% CI: 1.45–3.72) were more likely to be infected with high-risk HPV genotypes. Mexican American women with higher levels of acculturation were more likely to test positive for other sexually transmitted infections. ConclusionHigher acculturation levels related to more frequent infection with high-risk HPV genotypes and other STIs among US Mexican American women. This association may in part be due to engagement in sexual behaviors.

Colorectal Cancer Screening of Californian Adults of Mexican Origin as a Function of Acculturation

Californian Latinos have lower rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening compared to non-Latino whites, which may account in part for disparities in colorectal incidence trends. Participants, 603 Mexican-American men and 893 women aged 50 and older who had not been diagnosed with colon cancer, reported CRC screening behavior on the 2005 California Health Interview Survey. A 7-item acculturation index (English language use/proficiency, nativity, citizenship, and years living in the U.S.) was developed. A logistic regression model predicted CRC screening as a function of acculturation. Higher acculturated Mexican-Americans were 3-4 times more likely to have had both fecal occult blood test and endoscopic CRC screening. Lower acculturated Mexican men and women were twice as likely to not have any CRC screening. Colorectal screening is effective in preventing cancer; educational and outreach efforts and efforts to decrease language barriers among lower-acculturated Mexican-Americans should be intensified.

The Relationship of Acculturation and All Cause Mortality Among Mexican Americans: Results from the NHANES III Mortality Follow Up

Background: Mexican Americans comprise the largest percentage of Hispanics in the United States, accounting for 9.5% of the population in 2006. Although more than 40% of Mexican Americans are foreign born, even individuals born in the U.S. face the process of acculturation, or the merging of Mexican and American cultures. Previous research has linked acculturation to both negative and positive health outcomes, with more acculturated Mexican Americans experiencing increased rates of substance use and abuse, asthma, and obesity, but decreased rates of physical inactivity and low self-esteem. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between acculturation and all-cause mortality in a nationally representative sample of Mexican Americans.

Mexican Immigrant Mothers' Expectations for Children's Health Services

Women of Mexican descent living in the United States raise children who use health care services. What do immigrant Mexican mothers expect from children's health care services? And how do their expectations for children's health services compare to acculturated Mexican American mothers' expectations? This focused ethnographic study, based on repeated interviews with 28 mothers of varying acculturation levels, describes their expectations and experiences with children's health care services in the United States. Findings support a shared core of expectations for both Mexican immigrant and Mexican American mothers, and differences in health care access and financing, time spent in health care encounters, and cultural and linguistic expectations for care. Health care providers can use this information to approach Mexican-descent mothers and children with their expectations in mind, and craft a negotiated plan of care congruent with their expectations.

Treatment Acceptability Among Mexican American Parents

There is a void in the literature with regard to Hispanic parents’ views about common interventions for children with behavior problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the treatment acceptability of child management techniques in a Mexican American sample. Parents’ acculturation was also examined to determine if it would account for differences in treatment acceptability. Mexican American parents found response cost, a punishment-based technique, more acceptable than positive reinforcement–based techniques (e.g., differential attention). Results suggest that Mexican American parents’ acculturation has little impact on acceptability of child management interventions. No association was found between mothers’ acculturation and treatment acceptability. However, more acculturated Mexican American fathers viewed token economy as more acceptable than less acculturated fathers. Results are discussed in the context of clinical work and research with Mexican Americans.

Ethnicity and Nutrient Intake among Arizona WISEWOMAN Participants

Diet quality and risks of chronic disease have been identified, yet nutrient intakes from older uninsured populations have been scarcely described. Using the dietary intake profiles of an older, uninsured, and mostly Hispanic sample of Arizona WISEWOMAN participants, two ethnic groups were compared: Mexican American and non-Hispanic white women. Sociodemographic data related to nutrient intakes were identified. Estimated mean nutrient intakes of Mexican Americans (n = 260) and non-Hispanic white (n = 88) women were compared based on ethnicity and acculturation levels. Using linear regression models, associations of individual characteristics were made on nutrients for which reported intakes were less than the estimated average requirement (EAR). Mexican Americans had energy, vitamin E, and niacin intakes that were significantly lower than those of non-Hispanic whites, whereas vitamin A intake was significantly higher among Mexican Americans. Less acculturated Mexican American women had significantly higher intakes of vitamin E and folate than their more acculturated counterparts. For both ethnic and acculturation groups, intakes of vitamin E, calcium, and potassium were lower than the established standards in more than 70% of this population. Having a high body mass index (BMI) was associated with lower reported energy intake and higher protein and potassium intakes, and smoking was associated with lower intakes of vitamin E and folate. Mexican American women had overall lower micronutrient intakes compared with uninsured non-Hispanic white older women; this difference may be attributed to their underreporting intake.

Maternal Intrusiveness, Maternal Warmth, and Mother–Toddler Relationship Outcomes: Variations Across Low‐Income Ethnic and Acculturation Groups

The present study investigated the extent to which maternal intrusiveness and warmth during play, observed in 579 European American, 412 African American, and 110 more and 131 less acculturated Mexican American low-income families when children were approximately 15 months old, predicted 3 dimensions of the mother-toddler relationship 10 months later. Intrusiveness predicted increases in later child negativity in all 4 groups. Among African Americans only, this association was moderated by maternal warmth. Intrusiveness predicted negative change in child engagement with mothers only in European American families. Finally, near-significant trends suggested that intrusiveness predicted later decreased dyadic mutuality in European American and more acculturated Mexican American families, but not in African American or less acculturated Mexican American families.

Majority Rules? The Effects of School Ethnic Composition on Substance Use by Mexican Heritage Adolescents

This article examines key aspects of the school environment — its composition by ethnicity and acculturation — as important social contexts for understanding Mexican immigrant and Mexican American adolescents' drug use norms and behaviors. Results are presented based on surveys completed by Mexican-background students from 35 Phoenix, Arizona middle schools, whose enrollment ranged from a numerical minority to an overwhelming majority. Multivariate mixed models tested for the influence of school ethnic composition measures on substance use outcomes, while accounting for individual level predictors and for the nesting of data at the school level. The proportional representation of Latinos in the school was not a factor in an individual's drug use norms or drug use for the sample overall. Once students were broken down by acculturation status, however, ethnic composition had an effect. Less acculturated Mexican heritage students in schools with higher proportions of Latino students reported less substance use and less adherence to pro-drug norms. Further investigation using other measures of ethnic composition suggested that these effects were attributable to the larger presence of less acculturated Latinos in the school rather than more acculturated Latino students. These school-level effects support the individual-level results indicating that less acculturated Mexican American students face less daunting substance use risks. The results suggest that ethnic group size, but not necessarily numerical predominance, matters and that within-group differences influence the effect of a particular ethnic group's presence in the school. In other words, the majority does not always rule. These findings are interpreted using the concepts of segmented assimilation and school level social capital.

Gender identity, ethnicity, acculturation, and drug use: Exploring differences among adolescents in the Southwest

This article presents the findings of a survey completed by 1351 predominantly Mexican American middle school students residing in a large urban center in the U.S. Southwest. The study explores possible associations between drug use attitudes and behaviors and gender (biological sex), gender identity, ethnicity, and acculturation status. Based on the concepts of "machismo" and "marianismo" that have been used to describe Mexican populations, four dimensions of gender identity were measured: aggressive masculinity, assertive masculinity, affective femininity, and submissive femininity. In explaining a variety of indicators of drug use behaviors and anti-drug norms, gender alone had limited explanatory power, while gender identity-often regardless of gender-was a better predictor. Aggressive masculinity was generally associated with higher risk of drug use, while the other three gender identity measures had selected protective effects. However, the impact of gender identity was strongly mediated by acculturation. Less acculturated Mexican American students reported lower aggressive masculinity scores than non-Latinos. Less acculturated Mexican American girls reported both the lowest aggressive masculinity scores and the highest submissive femininity scores. More acculturated Mexican American students, along with the less acculturated Mexican American boys, did not appear to be following a polarized approach to gender identity (machismo and marianismo) as was expected. The findings suggest that some aspects of culturally prescribed gender roles can have a protective effect against drug use behaviors and attitudes, possibly for both girls and boys.

Health Perceptions of Mexican American Women

This article describes the health perceptions of a sample of moderately to highly acculturated Mexican American women. Using an ethnographic design, the author interviewed 13 women to determine their health perceptions. The interviews were guided by the domains of health described in the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health. Three broad categories of health perceptions were identified: the physical body, the emotional component, and finding balance. With the addition of a spiritual component, the WHO definition was a useful tool for uncovering health perceptions. The process of in-depth ethnographic interviewing provided a contextual view of health in which the complexity of intrafamilial relationships was revealed, as were the importance of spirituality as a coping mechanism and the perception of health as an integrated, holistic experience.

Acculturation and the prevalence of depression in older Mexican Americans: baseline results of the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging.

To determine the association between acculturation, immigration, and prevalence of depression in older Mexican Americans. Cross-sectional analysis from a cohort study. Urban and rural counties of the Central Valley of Northern California. One thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine Latinos recruited from a population-based sample (85% Mexican Americans) with a mean age of 70.6 (range 60-100; standard deviation (SD) = 7.13); 58.2% were women. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies--Depression scale (CES-D). Acculturation was measured with the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans--II. Psychosocial, behavioral, and medical histories were also obtained. The prevalence of depression (CES-D > or = 16) was 25.4%. Women were at greater risk (32.0%) than men (16.3%; male/female odds ratio (OR) = 2.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.90-3.09). The prevalence of depression was higher among immigrants (30.4%, OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.36-2.13), bicultural participants (24.2%, OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.24-2.24), and less-acculturated participants (36.1%, OR = 2.95, 95% CI = 2.22-3.93) compared with U.S.-born (20.5%) and more-acculturated groups (16.1%). When adjustments for education, income, psychosocial, behavioral, and health-problem factors were made, the least-acculturated participants were at significantly higher risk of depression than highly acculturated Mexican Americans (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.06-2.31). These findings are consistent with previously reported estimates of a higher prevalence of depression for older Mexican Americans than non-Hispanic Caucasians and African Americans and are the first to report the prevalence and risk of depression for older U.S.-born and immigrant Mexican Americans. The high prevalence of depression of the least acculturated group may be related to cultural barriers encountered by immigrants and less-acculturated older Mexican Americans and to poorer health status.

When is Caregiving a Burden? Listening to Mexican American Women

Home care of a chronically mentally ill relative exerts substantial physical and emotional demands on a family member. Yet, little work has examined the perspective about caregiving voiced by individuals from different ethnic groups and the comparison of this perspective with objective measures of caregiver burden. This article reviews findings from a study of 251 Mexican American and European American family caregivers of severely mentally ill relatives living in South Texas. Significant multivariate interaction effects of residence (rural/urban) and level of acculturation were found on caregiver stresses and coping responses, even when controlling for income. Analyses suggest differential vulnerability patterns for caregiver burden: In urban areas, Spanish-speaking Mexican Americans reported higher stress and greater coping efforts; whereas in rural areas, this was true instead for more acculturated Mexican Americans and European Americans. Discussion addresses differences in report of burden between standardized scaled approaches and open-ended responses and explores how the nature of caregiver burden may vary along contextual lines.

The effects of gender, ethnicity, and a close relationship theme on perceptions of persons introducing a condom.

A vignette methodology was used to examineperceptions of condom introducers on sixcondom-relevant,multi-item scales (Nice, Exciting, Sexually Attractive,Promiscuous, Good Relationship Partner,Unpersonable/Personable) in a university student sample of 133 MexicanAmericans and 110 Whites. Data were analyzed in a 2(gender of participant) ×2 (gender of condomintroducer) ×3 (low acculturated Mexican American,high acculturated Mexican American, White) ×2(presence/absence of close relationship theme) analysisof variance and covariance. Women rated condomintroducers significantly higher than men on the Nicescale, female condom introducers were rated significantly higherthan male condom introducers on the Nice scale, andcondom introducers who expressed a care andresponsibility theme while introducing a condom wererated significantly higher on the Nice scale than those whoexpressed no theme. The female condom introducer wasrated significantly higher than the male condomintroducer on the Exciting scale. Condom introducers whoexpressed a care and responsibility theme were ratedsignificantly higher than those who expressed no themeon the Good Relationship Partner scale. In a two-wayinteraction between gender of participant and gender of condom introducer, men rated the femalecondom introducer significantly higher than women on thePromiscuous scale. In another two-way interactionbetween gender of condom introducer and ethnicity, low acculturated Mexican Americans rated the femalecondom introducer significantly higher than the malecondom introducer on the Promiscuous scale. Lowacculturated Mexican Americans rated the condomintroducer significantly higher than Whites on theSexually Attractive scale. There were no significantmain or interaction effects of the independent variableson the Unpersonable/Personable scale.

Differential Perceptions of Drinkers of Alcoholic Beverages by Mexican-Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites

Random samples of 534 Mexican-Americans and 616 non-Hispanic Whites were interviewed over the telephone in San José, California and in San Antonio, Texas. Mexican-Americans tended to favor most frequently negative traits for their perceptions of drinkers than non-Hispanic Whites, Excessive drinkers were perceived most frequently in generally negative fashion by members of both ethnic groups although they were also perceived as happy persons. Highly acculturated Mexican-Americans reported perceptions of drinkers and of excessive drinkers that differed from those held by the less acculturated Mexican-Americans and that resembled those held by the non-Hispanic White respondents.

Race/ethnicity, acculturation, and psychological distress: Fatalism and religiosity as cultural resources

Data from a community sample of 1,784 Anglo, African-American, and Mexican-American adults were examined to assess: (1) the nature and magnitude of observed racial/ethnic and acculturation level differences in depression, (2) the relative contribution of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors (fatalism and religiosity) to observed differences, and (3) the joint effects of fatalism and religiosity as sociocultural resources with regard to depression in differing racial/ethnic and acculturation level subgroups. Analyses indicate the most dramatic differences in depression among males—African Americans were roughly similar to Anglos and levels of depression were significantly higher among the least acculturated Mexican Americans relative to Anglos, even after statistical controls. Acculturation level differences among Mexican-American females were explained by statistical controls. Lower levels of depression among more highly acculturated than among less acculturated Mexican Americans provide little support for a simplistic stress formulation of acculturation. Rather, the interplay of acculturation, fatalism, and religiosity supports a more complex cultural marginality model, emphasizing the consistency of attitudinal elements and language use as facilitators or inhibitors of assimilation into Anglo culture. Both those who successfully acculturate and those who are most insulated in traditional culture appear least depressed from this perspective.

Determinants of Complexity in Mexican-American and Anglo-American Mothers' Conceptions of Child Development

Complexity of parental reasoning about child development was studied in mothers who varied in ethnic background and biculturalism. Middle-class mothers from Mexican-American and Anglo-American backgrounds were compared on their level of concepts of development on a scale from categorical to perspectivistic reasoning. Categorical mothers interpreted child development as being caused by single constitutional or environmental factors. Perspectivistic mothers interpreted development as the result of the dynamic interplay between constitution and environment over time and accepted that the same developmental outcome could have multiple determinants. In a comparison among moderately acculturated Mexican-Americans, highly acculturated Mexican Americans, and Anglo Americans, the highly acculturated Mexican-American group scored as more perspectivistic than the other two groups, despite the fact that the Anglo-Americans were the most acculturated. When the 2 Mexican-American groups were subdivided into monocultural (Mexican or American) and bicultural subgroups and compared with the Anglo-American group, the bicultural subgroup of the highly acculturated Mexican-American mothers was the most perspectivistic. These results suggest a complex picture of diversity in Mexican-American mothers who retain values and beliefs from their own culture, as well as taking on values and beliefs of the American culture. Maternal intelligence and adherence to traditional cultural values were not found to correlate significantly with level of developmental reasoning.