Higher Levels Of Acculturation Research Articles

Factors affecting intention to access psychological services amongst British Muslims of South Asian origin

The aim of this study was to examine factors that affect intention to access psychological services in a sample of British Muslims of South Asian origin. It was hypothesised that the level of shame/izzat associated with mental health would predict intention to access services when controlling for other, more established, predictors. Ninety-four participants were recruited from community UK centres and online sources. Results indicated that shame/izzat and biological beliefs predicted lesser intent to access psychological services, whereas higher levels of acculturation and education predicted greater intention. Further analyses suggested differences between people that had migrated to Britain and those born in the United Kingdom. Higher education levels predicted greater intention for all participants. However, shame/izzat and duration of habitation in Britain were significant predictors for migrant participants, whereas acculturation predicted intent for those that were born in the country. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Enculturation and Alcohol Use Problems among Aboriginal University Students

To examine associations between aboriginal enculturation, Canadian acculturation, and alcohol problems among aboriginal university students living in an urban area in Canada. Data for this mixed methods study were collected through in-person surveys with a convenience sample of aboriginal university students (n = 60) in 2008/2009. Students evidenced high levels of aboriginal enculturation and Canadian acculturation. aboriginal enculturation was significantly associated with reduced alcohol problems for aboriginal university students. There was no association between Canadian acculturation and alcohol problems. Qualitative findings suggest aboriginal cultural practices helped students cope with problems in their daily lives and provided them with both personal and social rewards. This study found aboriginal enculturation was significantly associated with reduced alcohol problems among aboriginal university students. Results support the growth of programs and services that encourage aboriginal students to maintain their cultural identity within the university setting.

Relationship Between Acculturation and Attitudes Toward Gay Men and Lesbians in the Vietnamese American Community

We examined the impact of acculturation on attitudes toward gay men and lesbians in the Vietnamese American community. We recruited 114 Vietnamese American participants at a large community organization. The Suinn–Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (Suinn, 1992) was used to measure participants' acculturation levels, while the Attitudes Toward Lesbian and Gay Men Scale (Herek, 2004) was used to measure participants' attitudes toward homosexuality. It was hypothesized that Vietnamese Americans with higher levels of acculturation would have more positive attitudes toward homosexuality. The results supported this hypothesis. Additionally, we found a complicated pattern of results explaining attitudes based on acculturation level, age, and gender.

Preliminary Evidence for Mediation of the Association Between Acculturation and Sun-Safe Behaviors

To identify and test mediators of the relationship between acculturation and sun-safe behaviors among Latinos in the United States. We hypothesized that the effect of acculturation on use of sunscreen, shade, and sun-protective clothing would be mediated by perceived health status, educational level, access to health care, and contact with social networks regarding health matters. The 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey, implemented by the National Cancer Institute. Nationwide survey. A probability-based sample of the US civilian, noninstitutionalized adult population, comprising 496 Latino respondents. Use of sunscreen, shade, and sun-protective clothing when outdoors on sunny days, assessed by self-report on frequency scales. The positive association between acculturation and sunscreen use and the negative association between acculturation and use of sun-protective clothing were mediated by educational level (P < .05 for both). Perceived health status and contact with social networks regarding health matters were supported as mediators for sunscreen use only (P < .05). Health care access was not supported as a mediator for any of the outcomes. Structural equation models revealed distinct direct and indirect paths between acculturation and each sun-safe practice. Our findings emphasize behavior-specific mediated associations and could inform sun safety programming for Latinos with low and high levels of acculturation. The models support educational level, contact with social networks regarding health matters, and perceived health status as mediators primarily for sunscreen use. Future research should test different mediators for use of shade or sun-protective clothing.

Language Learning and Acculturation: Lessons From High School and Gap‐Year Exchange Students

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between acculturation and language learning during a year‐long study abroad program at the pre‐collegiate level. The researcher presents the experiences of four U.S. American sojourners to Sweden as case studies. This mixed‐methods study looks specifically at students with no prior knowledge of the target language. The researcher compared descriptions of students' acculturation and a measure of their acculturative outcomes to their language development as measured by an unofficial Oral Proficiency Interview after 5 and 10 months. The results indicated that higher levels of acculturation are associated with higher levels of proficiency, while a rejection of the host culture is associated with lower levels of proficiency. The researcher presents the implications for study abroad program designs that support language learning.

Acculturation, Social Context, and Drug Use: Findings from a Sample of Hispanic Adolescents

Criminologists have largely neglected the influence of acculturation in the etiology of Hispanic drug use and delinquency. This is somewhat surprising since a long line of research from several disciplines has consistently linked higher levels of acculturation to greater incidence of negative social, health, and behavioral outcomes. A major shortcoming of this extant literature, however, is its failure to consider the acculturation-drug use link within a particular explanatory framework. This study attempts to address this oversight by examining the acculturation-drug use relationship within the context of gang membership, drug availability, and susceptibility to peer influence. Using data from a sample of Mexican–American adolescents residing in the American Southwest, a series of regression equations were estimated exploring the relative effects of acculturation, gang membership, drug availability, and susceptibility to peer influence on drug use. Separate analyses were conducted on minor (e.g., alcohol, marijuana) and major (e.g., cocaine, heroin) drug use. Findings indicated that all study variables, except acculturation, were significantly related to drug use.

A Pilot Binational Study of Health Behaviors and Immigration

In the US, Mexican immigrant women often have better health outcomes than non-Hispanic white women despite a greater health risk profile. This cross-sectional pilot study compared women living in Chavinda, Michoacán (n = 102) to women who had migrated from Mexico to Madera, California (n = 93). The interview gathered information on acculturation and risk behaviors including smoking, alcohol use and number of sexual partners. The results suggest that more acculturated women living in the US are more likely to consume alcohol. US residence and higher acculturation level was marginally associated with having more than one sexual partner. There were no differences between odds of smoking among Chavinda and Madera women. While results with acculturation are not consistently significant due to small sample sizes, the results are suggestive that acculturation among immigrant Hispanic women in the US may be associated with adverse health behaviors, and selective migration seems less likely to account for these differences.

Policy implications of early onset breast cancer among Mexican-origin women.

Overall, Latinas are more likely to be diagnosed with a more advanced stage of breast cancer and are 20% more likely to die of breast cancer than non-Hispanic white women. It is estimated that from 2003 to 2006, $82.0 billion in direct medical care expenditures, in addition to 100,000 lives annually, could be saved by eliminating health disparities experienced by Latinos and increasing the use of up to 5 preventive services in the United States. An additional 3700 lives could be saved if 90% of women aged ≥40 years were recently screened for breast cancer. The authors examined the risk for breast cancer in a case-control, population-based sample of Mexican-origin women in Harris County, Texas (n=714), where the rates of breast cancer mortality for Latina women have doubled since 1990. Half of breast cancer cases (n=119) were diagnosed in women aged <50 years. In a multivariate model, women who had a family history of breast cancer (odds ratio [OR], 4.3), who were born in Mexico and had high levels of language acculturation (OR, 2.5), and who did not have health insurance (OR, 1.6) had the highest risk for breast cancer. Because the current results indicated that Mexican-origin women are at high-risk for early onset, premenopausal breast cancer, the authors recommended policies that target screening, education, and treatment to prevent increased disparities in mortality. The authors concluded that the inclusion of community members and policymakers as partners in these endeavors would further safeguard against an increase in cancer health disparities and aid in formulating a policy agenda congruent with scientifically based, community-driven policy efforts that address breast cancer screening, education, and treatment in this vulnerable population.

Speak for Success: A Pilot Intervention Study on Communication Competence of Post-Hire International Nurses

Speak for Success was a research study designed to test the effectiveness of an evidence-based, comprehensive communication training program for international nurses. A total of 79 registered nurses from two hospitals in southern Nevada participated in this quasi-experimental, two-phase study. Two interventions were included: a 10-week linguistics course focusing on phonology (pronunciation and accent reduction) by a certified speech pathologist and four workshops on the social and cultural aspects of communication conducted by intercultural communication experts. This study indicated that a short-term linguistic intervention was effective in reducing phonologic errors of international nurses regardless of gender, age, country of origin, or length of residency in the United States. For the second intervention, despite a tendency of improvement for some communication variables, differences in between-group and within-group comparisons were not significant, possibly because of the high level of acculturation among the sampled nurses as a result of living and working in the United States for an extended period of time.

Acculturation, childhood trauma and the cortisol awakening response in Mexican–American adults

Exposure to chronic and traumatic stress has been associated with the dysregulation of crucial stress response systems. Acculturation has been associated with unique forms of chronic psychosocial stress. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exposure to early traumatic stress and acculturation on dysregulation of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) in 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 18–38 years. Participants were assessed for level of acculturation and exposure to early trauma. Data were analyzed using a mixed effects regression model with repeated measures at four time points. Mixed effects regression results indicated a significant Early Trauma × Time interaction ( p = .0029) and a significant Acculturation × Time interaction ( p = .0015), after controlling for age and sex. Subsequent analyses of the interaction of Trauma × Acculturation × Time showed that more than minimal exposure to either risk factor was associated with attenuation of the awakening cortisol response ( p = .0002). Higher levels of acculturation with greater Anglo-orientation were associated with attenuation of the CAR in Mexican–American adults. Both moderate and higher levels of exposure to early trauma were associated with an attenuated CAR. However, greater exposure to both risk factors was only incrementally worse than exposure to either one.

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.

Transfer and Adoption of Advanced Information Technology Solutions in Resource-Poor Environments: The Case of Telemedicine Systems Adoption in Ethiopia

The study of the adoption of information technology (IT) by individuals has taken two approaches, one emphasizing rationalistic goal-oriented behavior and the other focusing on poignant forces that influence an individual's reaction to a new IT. These approaches are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Individuals' acceptance and subsequent usage of a new IT is predicated on both. Additionally, the tendency in past studies has been to examine either the rational or the poignant factors in the context of a "resource-rich" environment-one in which there is an abundance of IT, adequate infrastructure, and a high level of acculturation to technology solutions. Consequently, there is a clear need for the examination of these factors in resource-poor environments, where assumptions on technology abundance and technology culturation do not hold. We empirically test a model that explains the intention of physicians in a resource-poor environment (epitomized by rural Ethiopia) to adopt telemedicine systems. This model integrates the rational factors driving goal-oriented behavior with the poignant/emotive factors that are an innate part of each adopter's reaction to the new technology. We use the model to expose salient contextual factors that explain the acceptance behavior of individuals toward complex information and communications technology (ICT) solutions and implications of these on the management of technology transfer initiatives in a resource-poor environment. The model is parsimonious, yet explains 28% of the variance in the intention to adopt telemedicine systems and 58% in perceived ease of use. The theoretical and practical implications of this model are discussed. Namely, Sub-Saharan African, in general, and Ethiopian culture, in particular, plays an integral role in the adoption of ICT solutions. Organizational positions and roles among physicians, clinical professionals, and superiors stand to impact the adoption of telemedicine and other healthcare applications. Last, the degree to which users perceive that ICT is easy to use (i.e., ease of use) can be a function of technology experience and can influence perceived usefulness on behalf of users and healthcare organizations.

Differences in Perceptions of Barriers to College Enrollment and the Completion of a Degree Among Latinos in the United States

This study examined the differences in perceptions of barriers in education among Latinos in the United States based on the level of linguistic acculturation, generational status, academic achievement, and socioeconomic status of the participants. This study used data from the Pew Hispanic Research Center. Results indicated that later-generation participants with high levels of linguistic acculturation, high socioeconomic status, and high academic achievement perceived greater barriers to enrollment in college and the completion of a degree.

Willingness of Older Korean‐American Adults to Use Hospice

Responding to an urgent need for more research on end-of-life concerns of racial and ethnic minorities, the present study explored predictors of willingness of older Korean-American adults (N=675) to use hospice. Guided by Andersen's behavioral health model, the study considered predisposing factors (age, sex, marital status, education), potential health needs (chronic conditions, functional disability), and enabling factors (health insurance, acculturation, prior awareness of hospice). Nearly three-quarters of the sample answered yes to the following statement and question, "Hospice is a program that helps people who are dying by making them feel comfortable and free of pain when they can no longer be cured of their disease. If you needed hospice services, would you use them?" A greater willingness was observed in younger persons (odds ratio (OR)=0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.93-0.98) and those with higher levels of education (OR=1.67, 95% CI=1.12-2.48), more chronic conditions (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.05-1.44), health insurance (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.37-0.94), higher levels of acculturation (OR=1.07, 95% CI=1.03-1.10), and prior awareness of hospice (OR=4.43, 95% CI=2.85-6.90). The present study highlights the role of prior awareness in shaping individuals' attitudes toward services, calling attention to a need for community education and outreach programs for racial and ethnic minorities, with specific emphasis on dissemination of information and greater awareness of hospice services.

Association of depression, psycho-social stress and acculturation with respiratory disease among Puerto Rican adults in Massachusetts.

To assess associations between acculturation, depression, and self-reported stress score with reported diagnosis of respiratory disease (RD) in Puerto Rican adults, participants (N = 1,168) were identified from areas of high Hispanic density in the Boston, MA metropolitan area. Eligible participants were interviewed in the home by bilingual interviewers in either Spanish or English. Scales included topics ranging from general background to depressive symptomatology. Respiratory disease was self-reported and checked against prescribed medication. More than one-third (37.8%) of subjects reported doctor-diagnosed RD. A final binary logistical regression model (N = 850), which was adjusted for potential confounders (sex, age, education, poverty) showed that RD was significantly associated with psychological acculturation (OR = 1.97, P = 0.005), depressive symptomatology (OR = 1.52, P = 0.03) high perceived stress score (OR = 1.97, P = 0.009), and current smoking (OR = 1.61, P = 0.03). Significant inverse associations included a high level of language acculturation (OR = 0.65, P = 0.03), light (OR = 0.67, P = 0.01) and moderate to heavy physical activity versus sedentary physical activity (OR = 0.40, P = 0.03). We found self reported physician diagnosed RD was associated with high perceived stress and depression, as well as higher levels of psychological acculturation. Longitudinal research is needed to determine if there is a causal pathway for these associations.

Help-Seeking Attitudes Among Vietnamese Americans: The Impact of Acculturation, Cultural Barriers, and Spiritual Beliefs

ABSTRACT There is increasing evidence that Vietnamese Americans underutilize mental health services. This study surveyed 210 Vietnamese Americans about their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help to further understanding of variables that may impact attitudes toward use of mental health services in this community. It was hypothesized that acculturation, cultural barriers, and spiritual beliefs together will predict attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. The results indicated acculturation, cultural barriers, spiritual beliefs, age, and occupation were significant predictors of help-seeking attitudes. Specifically, higher levels of acculturation, cultural barriers, age, and occupation meant more positive attitudes toward seeking help whereas lower levels of spiritual beliefs resulted in more favorable attitudes toward seeking help. Implications for social work research and practice are addressed.

Access Impediments to Health Care and Social Services Between Anglophone and Francophone African Immigrants Living in Philadelphia with Respect to HIV/AIDS

Objectives To describe the social and cultural differences between Anglophone and Francophone African immigrants which define the impediments that Francophone African immigrants face trying to access health and human services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Methods Surveys and personal interviews were administered to participants in social events, community meetings, and health centers. A Chi-squared analysis was used to contrast the communities. Results Francophone Africans demonstrated less acculturation, education, English fluency, and more legal documentation problems, and thus face greater challenges accessing health care. Anglophone Africans had a higher level of acculturation, fewer language problems, and perceived fewer barriers in accessing health care than Francophone Africans. Conclusions Educating new immigrants, through a more culturally sensitive infectious disease treatment and prevention program, is integral to achieving a higher access and utilization rates of available services; especially in recent Francophone immigrants. A larger study is needed to extend the findings to other cities where immigrants with similar backgrounds or acculturation issues reside.

Associations Between Acculturation and Alcohol Consumption of Latino Men in the United States

This study examined the relationship between acculturation and six distinct drinking outcomes. We expected high levels of acculturation to be associated with higher odds of being a drinker and, among drinkers, with lower frequency of drinking, less alcohol consumption per year, less heavy drinking, fewer episodes of drunkenness, and fewer dependence symptoms. The data consisted of a nationally representative sample of Latino men ages 18 and older (N = 784) from the 2005 National Alcohol Survey. The men were predominantly Mexican and Mexican American (64%), and most were born outside the United States (68%). Analyses included both bivariate and multivariate regression models using weights to adjust for sampling and nonresponse. The hypotheses were partially supported. Men at high levels of acculturation were more likely than their peers at low levels of acculturation to be drinkers but only if they had above-average incomes. Counter to expectations, among drinkers there was a protective effect of medium, rather than high, levels of acculturation on frequency of drinking, volume of alcohol consumed, drinking to drunkenness, and dependence symptoms, with a protective effect approaching significance for heavy drinking. The findings have implications for future research and public health programs designed to reach Latino men in the United States.

Disparities in the Receipt of Fecal Occult Blood Test versus Endoscopy among Filipino American Immigrants

This report examines disparities associated with the type of colorectal screening test, fecal occult blood test versus endoscopy, within a particular racial/ethnic group, Filipino American immigrants. Between July 2005 and October 2006, Filipino Americans aged 50 to 75 years from 31 community organizations in Los Angeles completed a 15-minute survey in English (65%) or Filipino (35%). Of the 487 respondents included in this analysis, 257 (53%) had never received any type of colorectal cancer screening. Among the 230 subjects who had ever received a routine screening test, 78 had fecal occult blood test only (16% of the total sample), and 152 had endoscopy with or without fecal occult blood test (31% of the total sample). After controlling for access to care and key demographic variables in a multivariate analysis, only two characteristics distinguished between respondents who had fecal occult blood test only versus those who had endoscopy: acculturation, assessed by percent lifetime in the United States and language of interview, and income. Our data suggest a two-tier system, fecal occult blood test for less acculturated Filipino Americans with lower income versus endoscopy for Filipino immigrants with higher levels of acculturation and income. The disparity persists after adjusting for access to care. Instead of treating minority groups as monolithic, differences within groups need to be examined so that interventions can be appropriately targeted.

Household Income, Maternal Acculturation, Maternal Education Level and Health Behaviors of Chinese-American Children and Mothers

A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine factors associated with health behaviors, including physical activity and dietary intake, of Chinese women who have immigrated to the United States and their children. Using convenience sampling, a total of 65 Chinese-American children and their mothers in the San Francisco Bay Area participated in the study. Information related to children's weight, height, level of physical activity (Caltrac accelerometer), and dietary intake (Kids' food frequency questionnaire) was collected using standardized instruments. Mothers completed questionnaires regarding household income, their levels of education and acculturation (Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale), dietary intake (SWAN Food Frequency Questionnaire), and level of physical activity (Seven-day physical activity recall). 36.9% (n = 24) of the children were overweight (body mass index higher than the 85th percentile). A high household income was related to low maternal body mass index (R(2) = .08, P = .04), high maternal fat intake (R(2) = .21, P = .0001), and high maternal intake of sweets (R(2) = .08, P = .033), and a high level of maternal acculturation was related to low body mass index in children (R(2) = .07, P = .034). The results suggest that an intervention aimed at reducing obesity and promoting health behaviors must be appropriate for different ethnic groups with various incomes and levels of acculturation.