Adolescents Of Ethnic Groups Research Articles

Determinants of Living in a Three-Generation Household among Adolescents of Ethnic Groups in the U.S.: Family Structure, Social–Economic Status, and Cultural Factors

Purpose: Multigenerational families are becoming increasingly common in the U.S. This trend is primarily driven by three-generation households with grandparents. The coresident grandparents play an important role in adolescents’ health and well-being. Thus, by focusing on three-generational households, this study examined the determinants of living in three-generational households among adolescents within the contexts of the social–economic, cultural, and family factors that influence grandparent co-residence by ethnic groups. Methods: This study used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Wave I–III). The study sample included 10,093 adolescents, including White, African American, Asian, and Hispanic youth. This study conducted a series of logistic regression models to examine the associations between co-residence with grandparents and significant predictors in family structure, socioeconomic status, and cultural factors for youths in the U.S. by ethnic groups. Results: For White families, lower socioeconomic status was more pertinent to three-generational co-residence. However, the associations were in the opposite direction for Hispanic and African American households, indicating that higher socioeconomic status families were found to live with grandparents in those groups. For Hispanic families, adolescents from Spanish-speaking homes were more likely to live in three-generational households than those from English-speaking homes. Implications: These results suggest that family characteristics in three-generational households vary by ethnic group. Notably, family cultural factors were significant determinants of co-residence with grandparents in three-generational households, especially in Hispanic families. This study contributes to the sustainability discourse by examining the intersectionality of cultural maintenance, health and well-being, and aging society among three-generational households in the United States.

A case report of tetanic crisis from acute severe hypocalcemia secondary to hypovitaminosis D: analysis of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency between 1 and 18 years

Background: Hypocalcemia is one of the most common disorders of metabolism in children. One of the most known causes is hypovitaminosis D, an extremely widespread condition in the world, both in developed and developing countries. Etiology is related to poor exposure to sunlight and inadequate diet, especially in subjects with dark skin or exclusively breastfed or born to mothers with vitamin D deficiency by ethnic and cultural reasons. Case Presentation: We report a case of a teenager from Morocco, who presented a tetanic crisis in the course of influenza B. The laboratory tests showed severe hypocalcemia and low serum vitamin D concentration with increased parathyroid hormone value. The administration of calcium and vitamin D normalized the clinical and laboratory parameters. Conclusions: Adolescents of ethnic groups at risk frequently find themselves in a chronic situation of altered metabolism deriving from vitamin D deficiency. Hence, a simple insult, as influenza B virus, can lead to severe pathological manifestations.

Risk Factors for Obesity in Adolescents of Ethnic Groups in Rural Areas of the Republic of Buryatia: a Cross-Sectional Study

Background . Obesity develops as a result of interaction of genetic and environmental factors. The impact of environmental factors on the risk of obesity in children can be determined by socially conditioned causes. Objective. Our aim was to identify the risk factors associated with overweight/obesity in children of different ethnic groups living in rural areas of the Republic of Buryatia. Methods. The cross-sectional study included adolescents aged 11– 17 years. Overweight was considered to be the body mass index (BMI) values exceeding the 85th percentile of distribution for a given sex and age, obesity was considered to be the BMI the 95th percentile. We assessed the anthropometric measures of adolescents and their parents, socio-demographic characteristics, features of early history, eating behaviour, and lifestyle. Results. The study included 151 adolescents of the indigenous Asian (girls — 39.7%) and 118 Slavic (girls — 42.4%) ethnic groups. Overweight and obesity were detected in 53 (35%) and 36 (31%) adolescents, respectively. Independent risk factors for overweight/obesity in adolescents of both ethnic groups were BMI in their mothers — odds ratio (OR) 1.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–1.3) and 1.3 (95% CI 1.1–1.4), respectively; in adolescents of indigenous Asian ethnic groups, infrequent food intake — OR 4.2 (95% CI 1.1–16.1), living in an incomplete family — OR 4.4 (95% CI 1.3–14.1), and motherhousewife — OR 3.6 (95% CI 1.3–9.7); in adolescents of the Slavic ethnic groups — eating at night [OR 17.3 (95% CI 1.8–163.0)]. Conclusion. The risk factors for overweight/obesity in rural adolescents, regardless of their ethnicity, are overweight in mothers and irregular food intake of children. The risk factors for adolescents of indigenous Asian ethnic groups include social (family- related) characteristics such as living in single-parent families and families with non-working mothers.

Responses to CES-D: European American Versus Korean American Adolescents

No study has examined variations in the responses to CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) scoring among different ethnic group adolescents. This study compared response differences to CES-D between 51 European American and 58 Korean American (KA) adolescents. Thirty-nine percent of KA adolescents reported higher depressive symptoms compared to 33% European American adolescents. Controlling for child age, significant mean differences were found on six items between the two groups. When within-group difference was examined among KA adolescents using a bi-dimensional acculturation approach, no differences were found except one item. KA adolescents did not show response bias toward positive affect items in CES-D when compared to European American adolescents.

Do target and non-target ethnic group adolescents process advertisements differently?

Research on ethnic advertisements has identified attitudinal differences between target and non-target groups. However, investigators have largely failed to explain the reasons behind these differences. Accordingly, this study examines the process by which target and non-target group adolescents build attitudes towards ethnically focused advertisements. The Elaboration Likelihood Model and Dual Mediation Hypothesis models are used as theoretical and operational frameworks. This study uses a modified DMH model that incorporates ethnic identity strength and self-reference as important antecedents of ad attitude and ad cognition in the context of ethnic advertising. The data are analysed with the help of structural equation modelling procedures. The results suggest that non-target ethnic group adolescents generally process advertisements in a peripheral manner, whereas target ethnic group adolescents tend to engage in both central and peripheral processing. More importantly, for both majority and minority groups, the strength of subjects’ ethnic identity and self-reference impact their response to ethnic advertisements when the advertisement is compatible with their ethnic background.

Smoking, drugs, and other behavioral health problems among multiethnic adolescents in the NHSDA

Data from the NHSDA (2000) which contained screening measures for assessing risk for DSM-IV psychiatric disorders, were used to estimate smoking prevalence and its association with these disorders, among European American, Hispanic, and African American adolescents. Prevalence estimates, odds ratios, and hazard models were used to compare ethnic subgroups. European American and Hispanic adolescents born in the U.S. had a higher prevalence of smoking and DSM-IV tobacco dependence, and girls were higher than boys. Lifetime smokers had statistically significant odds ratios for anxiety, affective, substance use, and any behavior disorder, while Current smokers had a similar risk pattern except anxiety disorder. The increased risk for substance use disorder among smokers was notably higher. A hazard analysis showed that early onset of smoking (before 12 years) was related to earlier illicit drug use initiation as contrasted with later onset (12 years +), and non-smoking sharply reduced risk and delayed initiation into drug use. African American and Hispanic immigrants had lower risk of smoking initiation and tobacco dependence, however, ethnic group adolescents who initiated smoking shared increased risk of addictive and non-addictive disorders.

Gestos autolíticos deliberados (GAD) en adolescentes en el Oeste de Londres: Factores socio-culturales

Previous studies have suggested that inception rates of deliberate self-harm (DSH) in Asian and other minority ethnic group adolescents are no different from those in the majority community. We report on socio cultural factors affecting adolescents who self-harm in West London over a one-year period. Method. All cases of adolescent DSH were approached to take part in the study. Using standardised and qualitative approaches, data were collected on reasons for the attempt, cultural identity and life events. Results. A total of 76 cases were identified over one year. The rates of attempted suicide were lower among Asians compared with whites contrary to our expectations. Patterns of attempted suicide showed that taking overdoses was the commonest phenomenon and the commonest precipitating factor irrespective of ethnicity was disagreement with parents. Overdoses were more likely to be impulsive in both groups. Asians were more likely to report culture conflicts even though the rates across the two groups are not different. Conclusions. Any preventive strategies must include education and help in dealing with impulsive behaviour.

Inception rates of deliberate self-harm among adolescents in West London.

Studies have suggested that inception rates of deliberate self-harm among different ethnic group adolescents are broadly similar. We set out to study the rates of adolescent self-harm over a calendar year in Ealing--part of West London. All cases of deliberate self-harm presenting to the A&E department and paediatrics were identified and socio-cultural factors studied. Ethnicity was obtained using self-ascription. A total of 76 cases were identified over one year. Using the at risk population as denominator, no differences in inception rates were noted according to ethnicity. Overdoses were the commonest method used for deliberate self-harm. The similarities between the Asian and white adolescents suggest that some common aetiological factors may be at play. The risk factors may be related to gender rather than ethnicity in this age group.

ETHNICITY, ABILITY, ASPIRATIONS AND SOCIAL STATUS ATTAINMENT

In this study longitudinal data were used to examine relationships among children's intellectual ability, adolescents' aspirations and young adults' social-status attainment. The sample included 21-year-old Australians from Anglo-Australian, Greek and Southern Italian families. Regression surfaces were constructed from hierarchical models that examined possible linear, interaction and curvilinear associations among the variables. Typically, the findings indicated that in each ethnic group adolescents' aspirations had moderate to strong associations with status attainment. For Anglo-Australian and Greek young adults the relationships between ability and attainment were, in general, mediated by adolescents' aspirations. In contrast, for Southern Italians, ability continued to be associated with the educational and occupational attainment of the young adults.