Higher Levels Of Acculturation Research Articles

Obesity-related Aspects of the Home Environment: Differences among White Mothers, High Acculturation Level (AL) Hispanic Mothers, and Low AL Hispanic Mothers

Compare obesity-related aspects of home environments (physical activity, media, mealtime) among White, high-AL Hispanic, and low-AL Hispanic mothers with children ages 2-9y.

Sense of Filial Obligation and Caregiving Burdens Among Chinese Immigrants in the United States.

Focusing on Chinese immigrants, this study examined (1) whether filial obligation, the core social norm in the Chinese culture, is related to caregiving burdens; and (2) whether level of acculturation of the caregivers moderates the above relationships. Cross-sectional. Chicago, Illinois. A purposive sample of 393 Chinese adult immigrants who were primary caregivers of parents aged 60 years or older. Sense of filial obligation was captured by felt responsibility toward parents in six domains (respect, make happy, care, greet, obey, and provide financial support). Caregiving burdens were measured by the Caregiver Burden Inventory. Acculturation was measured by 12 questions about respondents' language preference in different settings and ethnicity of individuals they interact with. A stronger sense of filial obligation was significantly associated with lower levels of developmental (β = -.15), emotional (β = -.18), social (β = -.20), and physical (β = -.10) burdens. For subjective burdens (developmental, social burdens), such a protective effect of filial obligation was stronger among caregivers with lower acculturation levels. For more objective burdens (time-dependent, physical burdens), stronger filial obligation was actually associated with greater burdens among caregivers with higher acculturation levels. Programs focusing on celebrating the cultural heritage of immigrants and improving the relationship between the parents and children may be helpful to reduce caregiving burdens. Intervention programs that help Chinese immigrant caregivers to find the most appropriate way to balance traditional and new social norms are important to provide successful care to aging Chinese immigrants. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S564-S570, 2019.

Acculturation is associated with asthma burden and pulmonary function in Latino youth: The GALA II study

Acculturation is an important predictor of asthma in Latino youth, specifically Mexican Americans. Less is known about acculturation and pulmonary function measures. We sought to estimate the association of acculturation measures with asthma and pulmonary function in Latino youth and determine whether this association varies across Latino subgroups. We included 1849 Latinos (302 Caribbean Spanish, 193 Central or South Americans, 1136 Mexican Americans, and 218 other Latino children) aged 8 to 21years from 4 urban regions in the United States. Acculturation measures include nativity status, age of immigration, language of preference, and generation in the United States. We used multivariable logistic and linear regression models to quantify the association of acculturation factors with the presence of asthma (case-control study) and pulmonary function (case-only study), adjusting for demographic, socioenvironmental, and clinical variables. For all acculturation measures (nativity status, age of immigration, language of preference, and generation in the United States), greater levels of acculturation were associated with greater odds of asthma. Among cases, high (English preference) and medium (equal preference for Spanish and English) levels of language acculturation were associated with decreased bronchodilator response compared with low (Spanish preference) levels (P=.009 and .02, respectively). Similarly, high language acculturation was associated with increased FEV1 compared with low language acculturation (P=.02). There was insufficient evidence of heterogeneity for associations across Latino subgroups. Acculturation was associated with diagnosed asthma and pulmonary function in Latino children and is an important factor to consider in the management of Latino youth with asthma.

Gender differences in drinking behavior among Latino/a heavy drinkers

BackgroundIn the United States (U.S.), higher levels of acculturation have been associated with higher rates of heavy alcohol use more consistently among Latino women than among Latino men. This paper explores mechanisms underlying the link between acculturation and alcohol use among Latino/as in the U.S. We examine alcohol use expectancies and motives from the perspectives of the social cognitive theory of gender development. MethodsQualitative narratives data from six focus groups of individuals (total n = 37), who met criteria for heavy drinking (4/5 drinks/occasion for females/males), were examined separately by gender (18 females; 19 males). Coded narratives data were analyzed using a framework that compared lives in Latin America and in the U.S. Emergent themes were analyzed for their consistency across genders. Gender-specific themes were identified. ResultsChanges in family structure and the loss of social networks prompted divergent patterns of drinking among men and women, such that relative to patterns in their countries of origin, drinking among Latino women increased while it decreased among Latino men. Men and women reported drinking to replace missing social bonds, a motive not frequently reported in the literature on drinking motives. Women who engaged in heavy-drinking nonetheless described traditional gender role expectations after U.S. arrival. Only men endorsed positive alcohol expectancies in Latin America. Women reported drinking to alleviate psychological distress in the U.S. ConclusionsPre and post-immigration comparisons revealed different drinking trajectories among men and women after immigration to the U.S. These patterns appeared to be influenced by new social contexts and changes in familial expectations regarding women’s roles. Future inquiry that examines gender-specific themes in alcohol expectancies and motives unique to the experience of immigration, is warranted.

Comparison on predictors of mental health service use among Asian older adults

Studies have mostly examined mental health service use of older Asian immigrant combining all Asian Americans into one group whereas immigration backgrounds and socioeconomic status of each Asian minority group are different. Therefore, this study aimed to identify predictors of mental health service use within specific ethnic groups among older Asian adults focusing on Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese in California. The Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations (BMVP) is used to guide the secondary data analysis of a sample of 3,453 older Asian immigrants from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Logistic and linear regression analyses are performed to examine predictors of mental health service use and the frequency of mental health service use, respectively. As results, mental health‐seeking patterns differ by ethnicity within the older Asian immigrant sample, not being married (Korean), higher levels of acculturation (Filipino), lower levels of neighborhood cohesion (Korean and Vietnamese), higher levels of perceived safety (Korean) and lower levels of perceived safety (Vietnamese), higher levels of mental distress (Korean and Filipino), and having perceived need (all) were related to more visits for mental health services. The study findings highlight the necessity of cultural competency services and programs for each Asian ethnicity.

Detangling capital from context: a critical investigation of human capital explanations for immigrant wage inequality

ABSTRACT Researchers propose that novel measures of human capital, such as place of education or sending country GDP, can account for inequalities between foreign- and native-born persons that classic measures of human capital, such as years of education, leave unexplained. However, interpreting the relationship between these novel measures and outcomes of interest is challenging. In Western countries, variables such as sending country GDP, which are intended to assess the effects of human capital quality on earnings, may instead capture the effects high levels of pre-migration acculturation among migrants from developed countries, or natives’ positive attitudes towards white migrants. To avoid these problematic collinearities between human capital on one hand, and native attitudes on the other, I analyse data from Japan, where immigrants are not simultaneously advantaged or disadvantaged in terms of their level of acculturation, their human capital quality, and the attitudes that natives hold towards their group. In a setting where collinearities with native attitudes are attenuated, I find little evidence that novel measures of human capital predict higher earnings. The findings imply that previous research overstates the explanatory power of these novel measures of human capital, and potentially understates the impact of native attitudes.

The influence of acculturation level and family relationships on quality of life among U.S. Chinese older adults

ABSTRACTThe present study examined the influence of acculturation level and family relationships (i.e., positive family support and negative family strain) on quality of life (QOL), using the data from the Population Study of ChINese Elderly (PINE) in Chicago (N = 3159). Controlling for sociodemographic variables and health status, it was found that individuals’ acculturation level and positive family support were positively related to QOL, whereas negative family strain was negatively associated with QOL. More importantly, higher acculturation levels were associated with increased protective effects of positive family support and reduced risk effects of negative family strain on QOL among U.S. Chinese older adults.

Acculturation and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations across pregnancy among Mexican-American women

BackgroundThe process of acculturation (post-migration acquisition of host culture and/or loss of heritage culture) likely represents a key mediator of the observed post-migration decline in health that is evident among immigrant populations such as Mexican Americans. The observations that migrant health declines progressively as not only a function of length of stay in the U.S. but also across generations, and that this inter-generational decline in health is evident as early as at the time of birth itself, supports the concept of fetal programming of acculturation’s effects. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Inflammation during pregnancy represents a candidate pathway of particular interest for 2 reasons: it represents a key biological mediator of the psychosocial and/or behavioral sequelae of acculturation on health, and it represents a key pathway by which maternal states and conditions during pregnancy may influence fetal development and subsequent birth and child developmental and health outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturation and inflammation across pregnancy in a population of Mexican-American women. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that a higher level of acculturation is associated with higher circulating concentrations across pregnancy of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Methods75 pregnant first- or second-generation Mexican-American women constituted the study population. Acculturation was quantified using a commonly-used and previously validated measure – the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans (ARSMA). Maternal blood samples were collected during early, mid and late pregnancy for analysis of circulating IL-6 concentrations. ResultsHierarchical linear models indicated a significantly and positive main effect of acculturation on IL-6 concentrations across pregnancy after adjusting for key covariates including gestational age(s) at blood sampling, socioeconomic status, pre-pregnancy BMI, and presence of obstetric risk conditions. ConclusionsMaternal inflammation during pregnancy may represent a biological pathway of interest in the context of the inter-generational effects of acculturation from a mother to her as-yet-unborn child.

Nerovná startovní čára? Intersekcionální analýza počátků profesních drah jedenapůlté generace vietnamských mužů a žen na českém trhu práce

Based on 14 biographical-narrative interviews, using an intersectional approach to examine multiple discrimination based on age, gender, and ethnicity, we analyse the subjective reflections of young Vietnamese migrants from the second and the 1.5 generation on their integration into the Czech labour market. We analyse ethnicity and gender as socially constructed identities in the specific context of the labour market, school, and family. Important advantages that appear in the biographies of young Vietnamese migrant women and men influencing their positions in the labour market are their level of education, their knowledge of Czech and Vietnamese culture and language, and specific work experience. Focusing on potential discrimination and marginalisation, we can say that the young Vietnamese we interviewed often move between two identities - Czech and Vietnamese - to overcome potential disadvantages. Due to a high level of acculturation, they more frequently identify themselves with the Czech majority. At the same time, they derive benefits from the social and cultural capital of being a member of the Vietnamese minority. On the other hand, this advantage can inverse into disadvantage and young Vietnamese could fall into the trap of only occupying work positions that relate to their ethnic origin. For the reasons mentioned above, the Vietnamese in our study seek to acquire the highest possible cultural capital - the highest possible education and position in a prestigious profession, regardless of gender - as their strategy for overcoming potential disadvantage and avoiding the trap of 'migrant' labour-market niches their parents occupied.

Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Life Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: Impact of Gender and Latino Culture.

Ethnic and sex variations in depressive symptoms and quality of life (QOL) among adolescent and young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors were explored among a sample of Latino and non-Latino childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) (n = 194) treated at hospitals in Los Angeles County. Latinos scored higher in depressive symptoms and lower in QOL when compared with non-Latinos. Males had higher depressive symptoms. Among Latinos, higher levels of acculturation were associated with depression and a poorer QOL, and we found that more acculturated Latino males were more likely to have meaningful levels of depression than less acculturated males or females. Interventions addressing depressive symptoms may be most needed for Hispanic male CCSs.

Ethnic Drinking Culture, Acculturation, and Enculturation in Relation to Alcohol Drinking Behavior Among Marriage-Based Male Immigrants in Taiwan.

Drinking behavior among immigrants could be influenced by drinking-related cultural norms in their country of origin and host country. This study examined the association of ethnic drinking culture, acculturation, and enculturation with alcohol drinking among male immigrants in Taiwan. This cross-sectional survey recruited 188 male immigrants. Ethnic drinking culture was divided into dry and wet according to per capita alcohol consumption and abstinent rate in the countries of origin in reference to that in Taiwan. A scale, Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Marriage-Based Immigrants, was developed to measure acculturation (adaptation to the host culture) and enculturation (maintenance of the original culture). Drinking patterns (abstinent, low-risk drinking, and hazardous drinking) were determined by scores on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. There was a significant interaction between ethnic drinking culture and enculturation/acculturation on drinking patterns. Multinomial logistic regression models identified that for those from dry ethnic drinking cultures, a high level of acculturation was associated with increased low-risk drinking, while a high level of enculturation was associated with decreased low-risk drinking. For those from wet ethnic drinking cultures, a low level of acculturation and high level of enculturation were associated with increased hazardous drinking. High family socioeconomic status was associated with increased drinking, while perceived insufficient family income was positively associated with hazardous use. To prevent hazardous use of alcohol, health education should be targeted at immigrant men who drink, especially among those who have economic problems, are from wet ethnic drinking cultures, and demonstrate low adaptation to the host culture.

The Relation between Acculturation and Psychological Well-Being among Adolescents of Asian Origin

The current study aimed to test the direct and indirect effects of acculturation on the psychological well-being among the adolescent children of Asian origin. Subgroup analysis was conducted to compare these effects between Asian refugee and non-refugee children. Data were from the follow-up survey of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS). The analytic sample included adolescents from Asian refugee families (N = 563) and non-refugee families (N = 779). Adolescent acculturation was assessed by three proxy measures: nativity, time in the United States, and U.S. preference. Family dynamics were measured by adolescents’ perceptions about parent-child conflict and family cohesion. Multi-group structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings suggested that the direct effects of acculturation on psychological well-being were dependent upon the proxy measure of acculturation and the immigration type. Mediation analyses showed that higher level of acculturation was generally related to higher parent-child conflict and lower family cohesion, which, in turn, were associated with lower psychological well-being in the refugee subsample, but not the non-refugee subsample. Our findings call for programs that can take advantage of the protective role of family cohesion and reduce the negative impact of parent-child conflict. Special attention needs to be paid to the refugee population from Asia.

Acculturation and Activity Engagement Among Older Chinese Americans.

Using data from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE) conducted from 2011 to 2013, this study aims to examine the role of acculturation in engagement in cognitive, social, and religious activities among older Chinese Americans. Activity engagement and acculturation levels were relatively low in the study sample. Multivariate regression analyses showed that high levels of acculturation in general, and particularly media use (e.g., TV and radio) and ethnic social relations (i.e., preferred ethnicity of those with whom one interacts) were associated with more engagement in cognitive and social activities, respectively. High levels of acculturation in general and ethnic social relation in particular increased the likelihood of engaging in religious activities. Language use was not related to engagement in any activity, probably because only 2% of the PINE participants preferred to speak English. Findings indicate that acculturation can promote activity engagement probably through media use and social relations, whereby older adults may acquire information about opportunities for various activities. Active participation with life may improve older adults’ well-being and help address the widening health disparities among minority older populations in American society.

Parental acculturation level moderates outcome in peer-involved and parent-involved CBT for anxiety disorders in Latino youth.

Cognitive behavioral therapies (CBTs) are efficacious treatments for anxiety disorders in Latino youth. However, there is a gap in knowledge about moderators of CBT outcomes in Latino youth. This study addresses this gap by examining parental acculturation as a moderator of youth anxiety outcomes in a randomized controlled trial of parent-involved CBT (CBT/P) and peer-involved group CBT (GCBT) in 139 Latino youth (ages 6 to 16 years; mean age = 9.68 years). Comparable youth anxiety reduction effects were found for CBT/P and GCBT. Parental acculturation to majority US culture, but not identification with country of origin, significantly moderated youth anxiety outcomes: at low levels of parental acculturation to majority US culture, youth posttreatment anxiety scores were lower in GCBT than CBT/P; at high levels of parental acculturation to majority US culture, youth posttreatment anxiety scores were lower in CBT/P than GCBT. These findings provide further evidence for the efficacy of CBTs for anxiety disorders in Latino youth and also provide guidance for moving toward personalization of CBTs' selection depending on parental acculturation levels.

The moderating effects of acculturation on the relation of parenting strategies to unhealthy weight control behaviors in Hispanic daughters

There is a dearth of research regarding the association of child and parent traits to the use of unhealthy weight control behaviors among minority girls with obesity. This study examined the moderating effects of mothers' and daughters' acculturation in the relation of parenting strategies (setting limits, monitoring and discipline) to unhealthy weight control behaviors in Hispanic girls with obesity. Participants included 148 Hispanic mother-daughter dyads (Mage = 39.1, SD = 6.4 years; Mage = 11.3, SD = 1.5 years, respectively). Two-thirds of the mothers were born in Mexico and 46% of them reported low levels of acculturation. In contrast, almost all daughters (90%) were born in the United States and reported high levels of acculturation. Participants were recruited through school nurses and social agencies community coordinators. Mothers and daughters completed surveys on demographic, acculturation, unhealthy weight control behaviors (daughters only) and parenting strategies (mothers only), and had their height, weight, and adiposity assessed. Results from a hierarchical regression analysis revealed that daughters' acculturation, but not mothers' acculturation, moderated the relation of parenting limit setting to daughters’ reported engagement in unhealthy weight control behaviors (β = 1.12, p = 0.007). That is, mothers who used more limit setting were less likely to have daughters engaging in unhealthy weight control behavior and this association was stronger among low acculturated girls than among their highly acculturated counterparts. Future research should assess cultural influences and parenting practices in a sample of Hispanic mothers and their adolescent daughters of varied weight statuses and acculturation levels.

Association between migration and cognitive status among middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review

BackgroundThis study aimed to synthesize the current literature examining the association between migration and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults.MethodsWe used the PRISMA as a guideline for this systematic review and searched the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Global Health.ResultsTwenty-five published studies were included. Twenty-two studies were focused on international migrants, while only 3 studied internal migrants. Fourteen studies were conducted in the United States, followed by UK (n = 2), Israel (n = 2), India (n = 2) and other countries like Canada and Australia. Some studies showed that middle-aged and older migrants demonstrated poorer cognitive function comparing to non-migrants in hosting places; while other studies indicated no association between migration and cognitive function. A higher level of acculturation was associated with better performance on cognitive function tests among migrants.ConclusionIt is unclear how or whether migration and cognitive function are related. The quality of current literature suffered from methodological deficiencies. Additional research is needed to examine the linkages using more comprehensive measures of migration and cognitive function.

Health behaviour in the face of cultural conflict: perceptions of immigrant Muslim women

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe immigrant Muslim women’s perceived barriers and facilitators to health behaviours relating to the interface between the cultural backgrounds of the participants and the predominant culture in Canada.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach was taken to conduct ten in-depth semi-structured interviews followed by three focus groups with immigrant women in Winnipeg, Canada. A demographic questionnaire, acculturation scale, and interview guides were used for data collection. Constant comparison analytic method was utilised to extract and refine themes.FindingsA total of 32 adult Muslim women who had emigrated from 14 countries in Asia and Africa participated in this study. Most of the participants had medium to high levels of acculturation and enculturation. Through the in-depth analysis of the participants’ insights, these factors emerged as determinants of health behaviours related to cultural interactions: changes in gender role, mistrusting the unfamiliar, feelings of alienation, new construction of time, and reconstruction of private and public spheres. These themes display the participants’ conceptual and practical adaptations in Canada.Research limitations/implicationsThe perspectives of those with poor spoken English language skill and the participants’ history of immigration were not obtained in this study limiting the study’s findings.Practical implicationsThis paper reveals factors that potentially influence immigrant Muslim women’s health behaviours and should be considered when designing health promotion programs for similar groups.Originality/valueThis is the first paper focusing on cultural determinants of immigrant Muslim women’s health behaviour in a non-metropolitan Canadian city. Findings can help health promoters design culturally competent programs for this growing population to garner its greater participation.

Parental Feeding Style and Pediatric Obesity in Latino Families.

Pediatric obesity has become an epidemic in the United States. Previous research has shown that parenting factors related to feeding style affect child weight and that Latino families are especially at risk for pediatric obesity. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between parental feeding style and child body mass index (BMI) in Latino families. Latino parents of children between the ages of 2 and 8 ( N = 124) completed a survey on parental feeding styles, acculturation, and demographics. The outcome variable was child BMI. Among respondents, 89% were mothers, 72% were overweight or obese, and 40% reported an indulgent feeding style. Children had a mean age of 59 months ( SD = 23.8) and a mean BMI z score of 0.77 ( SD = 1.14). A demanding parental feeding style was associated with lower child BMI z score, r = -.179, p < .05, and higher acculturation level, r = .213, p < .05. Findings from the current study can be used to inform health care practitioners of the need to use culturally sensitive interventions that consider parents' feeding behaviors. Future research is warranted in the area of ethnic variations of parenting and how these affect feeding and obesity in this highly vulnerable population.

The influence of cultural orientation on associations between Puerto Rican adolescent mothers' parenting and toddler compliance and defiance.

It is imperative that individual differences in the cultural contexts of adolescent mothers, whose parenting is often linked to poor child outcomes, be better understood, especially among Puerto Rican-origin mothers who experience high rates of poverty. Behaviors that mothers use to elicit compliance from their children are important to investigate, because children's ability to engage in regulated, compliant behavior has long-term consequences for their adjustment. This study tested whether mothers' orientation to both American and Latino cultures influenced the associations between such maternal behaviors and compliant and defiant child behaviors. The sample included 123 young, Puerto Rican-origin mothers and their 24-month-old toddlers. Behaviors coded from a toy cleanup task measured maternal guidance and control and child compliance and defiance, and acculturation and enculturation were measured with a self-report questionnaire. Maternal guidance predicted more child compliance, with no significant variations by cultural orientation; however, mothers who were more enculturated had children who were more compliant. As predicted, mothers' more frequent use of control was related to more child defiance for mothers reporting high levels of acculturation, and not for less acculturated mothers. Findings support the hypothesis that individual differences in cultural orientation influence variations in associations between certain maternal and child behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record

In Pursuit of Belonging: Acculturation, Perceived Discrimination, and Ethnic-Racial Identity among Latino Youths.

Guided by Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems framework and informed by the rejection-identification model, this study examined the relationship between acculturation, discrimination, and ethnic-racial identity (ERI) searching and affirmation among a sample of Latino youths (N=830; mean age=12.2 years). Results revealed that higher levels of acculturation were associated with lower levels of searching and affirmation. Furthermore, higher perceived discrimination was associated with higher affirmation, but unrelated to searching. Finally, perceived discrimination significantly attenuated the negative associations between acculturation and adolescents' ERI searching and affirmation. The article concludes with a discussion of practice implications.