Hispanic Boys Research Articles

Better suicidality detection among minority, preteens needed

Observing that hospital emergency departments may be missing signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in Black and Hispanic youth, boys and preteens, researchers of a new study published in JAMA Open Network are calling for improved detection of suicidality in this population and the need to address these disparities.

Parental incarceration and health risks in a population-based study of U.S. early adolescents: Results among racialized groups

Parental incarceration is an adverse childhood experience that inequitably burdens families of color and affects millions of U.S. children and adolescents. Although racialized disparities in exposure to parental incarceration are often acknowledged, researchers have yet to examine whether manifestations of racism may affect the link between parental incarceration and youth outcomes. This study provides a first look at how parental incarceration relates to health vulnerabilities in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, an ongoing, population-based study of U.S. children born between 2006 and 2008. We start by describing exposure to parental incarceration and then examine how parental incarceration, state-level racial prejudice, and discrimination relate to health risks among 9191 White (66%), Black (19%), or Hispanic (15%) youth. Consistent with what we know about pervasive racialized disparities in the U.S. criminal legal system, we find that 19.3% of Black children in our sample have experienced parental incarceration, followed by 7.8% of Hispanic children, and 4.8% of White children. Results of multilevel mixed models further indicate that parental incarceration was associated with increased health risks among White children whereas family economic hardship and discrimination experiences were more robustly associated with health vulnerabilities among Black and Hispanic children. Additional analyses explored whether parental incarceration was associated with other outcomes among Black and Hispanic children, revealing increased risk for behavior problems contingent upon parental incarceration and discrimination for Black children and Hispanic boys. Among Hispanic girls, parental incarceration was associated with increased risk of behavior problems in states with higher levels of racism. Results suggest that parental incarceration contributes to risk among early adolescents across racialized groups, but that the specific toll it takes depends on outcomes assessed and the context in which it occurs.

Examining Algebra I performance differences among at-risk Texas Hispanic high school boys: A multiyear investigation

This investigation examined the Algebra I End-of-Course exam performance of Hispanic boys who were at-risk and those who were not at-risk during the 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 school years. Data for all students in Texas who took the Algebra I End-of-Course exam during these years were obtained from the Texas Education Agency. The analysis focused exclusively on Hispanic boys. Utilizing secondary data, a causal-comparative or ex post facto study was conducted. The inferential statistical procedures revealed statistically significant differences in performance for at-risk Hispanic boys across all three school years. In each of these years, a significantly lower percentage of at-risk Hispanic boys met the three grade-level standards (Approaches Grade Level, Meets Grade Level, and Masters Grade Level) compared to their not-at-risk peers. On average, at-risk Hispanic boys answered about 13 fewer items correctly than those who were not at-risk. These findings indicate that current instructional practices are not adequately meeting the needs of at-risk Hispanic boys. Policymakers and educational leaders are advised to review current programs and implement necessary changes to better support these students.

Lost support, lost skills: Children's cognitive outcomes following grandparental death

ObjectiveThis study examines the implications of grandparental death for cognitive skills in middle childhood. MethodThis study uses data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 2479) to estimate ordinary least squares regression models of the associations between grandparental death and subsequent cognitive skills among children in middle childhood. ResultsExperiencing a grandparental death between ages 5 and 9 is associated with boys' lower reading, verbal, and math scores at age 9, with associations most notable for Black and Hispanic boys; grandparental death before age 5 has minimal influence on boys' cognitive skills at age 9. There is little indication that grandparental death adversely affects girls’ cognitive skills. ConclusionThe numerous and persistent implications of grandparental death for boys’ cognitive skills merit greater recognition of grandparental death as a source of family instability, stress, and ultimately inequality in child development.

Analyzing the success of Hispanic boys in meeting college and career readiness standards in rural Texas high schools

Examined in this investigation were the percentages of Hispanic boys who were college ready or not college ready as a function of the district’s rural setting for three consecutive school years (i.e., 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019). Descriptive statistics were calculated for all three rural school district types combined and then separately for the three rural school districts (i.e., Rural Remote, Rural Distant, and Rural Fringe). With respect to this investigation, 41% of Hispanic boys met a College, Career, and Military Readiness indicator in mathematics. All three rural school district types had positive trends or negligent changes over the three consecutive school years for Hispanic boys who met a College, Career, and Military Readiness indicator in mathematics. More than a third, 34.36%, of Hispanic boys from rural distant school districts met a college readiness indicator in mathematics. Similar percentages were present for Hispanic boys in rural remote school districts, 35.74%, and for Hispanic boys in rural fringe school districts, 36.01%. However, approximately two-thirds of Hispanic boys did not meet a college readiness indicator in mathematics in any of the three rural district type settings over three consecutive years. As such, educational leaders are encouraged to expand their efforts in this area, along with evaluating the efficacy of their current strategies.

Immigrant generation status and its association with pubertal timing and tempo among Hispanic girls and boys.

In the United States, Hispanic-Latino children reach puberty earlier on average than non-Hispanic white children. Yet among U.S. Hispanic/Latino children, pubertal timing comparisons between immigrant generations have not been made, hence we examined whether pubertal timing differs by immigrant generational status, independent of BMI and acculturation measures. Cross-sectional data on 724 boys and 735 girls, aged 10-15 years, from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino (SOL) Youth, were used to predict the median ages of thelarche, pubarche, and menarche in girls, and pubarche and voice change in boys, using Weibull survival models, while adjusting for SOL center, BMI, and acculturation. In girls, the first generation began thelarche earlier than second and third generations (median age [years] [95% confidence interval]: 7.4 [6.1, 8.8] vs. 8.5 [7.3, 9.7] and 9.1 [7.6, 10.7], respectively), but began menarche later (12.9 [12.0,137] vs. 11.8 [11.0, 12.5] and 11.6 [10.6, 12.6], respectively). Pubertal timing and tempo for boys did not differ by generational status. First-generation U.S. Hispanic/Latino girls had the earliest thelarche, latest menarche and longest pubertal tempo, compared to second and third generations. Factors beyond BMI and acculturation may account for the differences in pubertal timing by generational status of U.S. Hispanic/Latino girls.

Lower human papillomavirus vaccine initiation and completion among Asian American adolescents compared to their peers: National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2011-2018.

To compare human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiation and completion between Asian American adolescents and their peers. HPV vaccine initiation and completion of adolescents aged 9-17years old were analyzed using the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey data from 2011 to 2018. The outcomes were HPV vaccine initiation percentage among all adolescents and completion percentage among initiators. Odds ratios for initiation or completion among Hispanics, Blacks, and Asians (referred to as racial/ethnic minorities) versus Whites were compared using logistic regression, adjusted for adolescent's age, annual family income, parent education, and insurance coverage. From 2011 to 2018, overall initiation was less than 40% among U.S. adolescents. The initiation increased among boys (from 10% in 2011-12 to over 30% in 2017-2018) but not among girls. Compared to White girls, Black and Hispanic girls were more likely, while Asian girls were less likely to initiate vaccination. Although not statistically significant, Asian girls had ORs ranging from 0.65 to 0.99 for initiation compared to White girls in each of the four survey cycles. Black and Hispanic boys were more likely to initiate vaccination compared to White boys. Initiation among Asian boys increased to 39% in the 2017-2018 survey cycle. Racial/ethnic minority girls were less likely to complete the series compared to White girls, while the opposite was seen in Black boys. HPV vaccination status varies among racial/ethnic groups. Future efforts should be made to achieve the Healthy People 2020 goal of 80% vaccination among U.S. adolescents and address the gap among Asian American girls.

Abstract MP78: Race/Ethnic Disparities in Children’s Cardiovascular Health: The Role of Social Disadvantage in Early Life

Introduction: The loss of cardiovascular health (CVH) begins early in life and disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minorities, particularly children in single parent households, and households with lower education, family income and food insecurity. However, the contribution of these social determinants to CVH disparities in childhood are poorly understood. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that racial/ethnic differences in CVH among US children are explained by social disadvantages. Methods: Data from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for children aged 2-18 (N=4,792) were used. CVH was measured using the AHA Life’s Essential 8 scores that combine nicotine exposure, diet, physical activity, sleep, body mass index, and blood pressure, lipids, and glucose. Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition methods were used to quantify the contributions of parental education, marital status and household income to poverty ratio, and food security to differences in CVH by race and sex. Results: Mean CVH score was highest among non-Hispanic White (mean [SE] = 73.7 [0.5]) than non-Hispanic Black (71.3 [0.6]) and Hispanic children (71.0 [0.4]). There was no significant difference among Black-White boys (mean differences [MD] = -1.52; 95% CI: -3.25, 0.21). Black girls had significantly lower CVH than White girls (MD= -2.66; 95% CI: -4.40, -0.91). Differences in parental college education accounted for 46% of the differences in CVH scores (MD = -1.21; 95% CI: -1.89, -0.54). Among Hispanic children, both boys (MD = -2.47; 95% CI: -4.22, -0.73) and girls (MD = -3.09; 95% CI: -4.60, -1.58) had significantly lower CVH scores than White boys and girls, respectively. Differences in parental education explained 66% of the difference in CVH among White-Hispanic boys and girls (MD= -0.66; 95%CI-1.11, -0.20; and MD= -0.66; 95%CI-1.20, -0.13). Discussion: Differences in parental college education largely explained lower levels of CVH among US Black and Hispanic children, a predictor of future cardiovascular disease.

Predictive Bias in Juvenile Risk Assessment: Considering Race/Ethnicity and Sex

This study examines the joint effects of race/ethnicity and sex on the classification quality of the Positive Achievement Change Tool (PACT). We assess predictive parity, calibration, and error rate balance using a statewide sample of youth who completed probation from 2007 to 2014. Similar rates of predictive parity were observed across groups. Calibration was observed consistently across groups, but only when low risk youth were used as the reference category. Black and Hispanic boys revealed the highest base rates of re-arrest and inaccurate classification (i.e., scored low risk but were rearrested). Our findings highlight the difficulty in making conclusions about test bias, especially when base rates of recidivism are not equal across groups. Implications for juvenile justice policy and practice are discussed.

Student self-ratings of social-emotional competencies: Dimensional structure and outcome associations of the WCSD-SECA among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White boys and girls in elementary through high school

School-based assessments of students' self-reported social-emotional competencies (SECs) are an essential part of social and emotional learning (SEL) initiatives. Few studies, however, have investigated whether such assessments align with the frameworks that inform SEL practices, especially for diverse populations. In the present study we investigated the dimensional structure of the 40-item Washoe County School District Social-Emotional Competency Assessment (WCSD-SECA), which was designed to measure the five domains of SECs defined by the widely used Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning framework (CASEL 5). Findings showed that a subset of 21 items fit a 3-factor solution that reflected Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Emotion-Focused competencies, a structure consistent with previous theorizing of broad SEC constructs. This 3-dimensional structure was partially invariant, with differences especially evident in item thresholds across subpopulations (defined by the intersection of grade level, gender, and race/ethnicity). Accounting for differences in item thresholds increased mean differences among subpopulations in the three domains. Across subpopulations, Intrapersonal scores were positively associated with students' standardized test scores and GPAs, and negatively related to the number of days they were absent from school, in multilevel models that adjusted for school-level clustering and included all three SEC scores and student demographic controls. Interpersonal scores were associated with fewer suspensions. Interpersonal and Emotion-Focused scores demonstrated unexpectedly negative associations with some outcomes in these models. Findings contribute to an emerging body of research that aims to deepen understandings of the content and structure of students' SECs as well as the factors that contribute to growth in these competencies.

Transient Elastography Measures of Hepatic Steatosis and Fibrosis Are Associated With Body Composition Among US Adolescents.

Obesity-related fatty liver disease impacts long-term adolescent liver health. We examined transient elastography assessed hepatic steatosis and fibrosis distributions and relationships with body composition and lifestyle factors in a United States national adolescent population sample. Liver stiffness and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) were assessed on 1080 non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic boys and girls aged 12-19 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018. Participants underwent anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Compared with girls, boys had higher mean CAP (223.7 dB/m vs 215.3 dB/m) and liver stiffness (5.1 kPa vs 4.9 kPa). CAP and liver stiffness increased markedly with body mass index (BMI). In multivariable-adjusted analysis, CAP in the upper quartile was associated with Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian ethnicity and increased BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, and sedentary time, and decreased physical activity and Healthy Eating Index-2015 score. In multivariable-adjusted analysis, liver stiffness in the upper quartile was associated with male sex, non-Hispanic black ethnicity, and increased BMI, alanine aminotransferase, CAP, and serum cotinine. DXA total percent fat and trunk fat percent were positively related to CAP ( P < 0.001 for each), but not to liver stiffness with multivariable adjustment. Results were similar with CAP and liver stiffness as continuous characteristics. In US adolescents, increased anthropometric and DXA body composition measures and lifestyle factors were associated with higher CAP and liver stiffness. Transient elastography and similar noninvasive markers may be utilized for early detection of liver disease in high-risk pediatric populations.

Sixth-Grade Hispanic Boys’ and Girls’ Performances and Preferences in Cardiovascular Fitness Testing: A Comparison Between the 1-Mile Run and the PACER

The purposes of this study were to determine the performance of primarily hispanic sixth-grade students for the pacer and the 1-mile run, which cardiovascular test they perceived to require more effort, and what they liked and disliked about both cardiovascular tests. Participants included 103 males and 97 females ages 10 to 12. Each participant completed a multiple-choice survey and was encouraged to provide specific reasons for cardiovascular test preference. Results indicated that higher percentages of both girls and boys achieved passing scores in the pacer and preferred the pacer (72%) to the 1-mile run (28%). Respondents provided strong support for allowing students in this age group to choose between the 1-mile run and the pacer when performing cardiovascular fitness testing.

The Harms of Structural Whiteness on Weapon Carrying, Policing, and Child Health.

The Harms of Structural Whiteness on Weapon Carrying, Policing, and Child Health.

Weapon Carrying Among Boys in US Schools by Race and/or Ethnicity: 1993–2019

High adolescent gun-related mortality, gun violence, pro-gun policies, white supremacy, and the long-term socioeconomic and other effects of racial oppression are intricately linked in the United States. Racist prejudice depicts male individuals of color as more prone to criminality than white male individuals. We described long-term patterns of weapon carrying in US schools among non-Hispanic (NH) white, NH Black/African American, and Hispanic boys, hypothesizing that in contrast to racist stereotypes, boys of color did not bring weapons into schools more often than NH white boys in recent years. We conducted a time series analysis using 1993-2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data comparing boys' self-reported weapon carrying in a nationally representative sample of US high schools by race and/or ethnicity, age, and self-reported experience of safety and violence at school. Weapon carrying in schools has declined among all boys. Comparing all schools, we found no significant differences in weapon carrying (4%-5%) by race and/or ethnicity in 2017 and 2019. Boys who reported experiencing violence or feeling unsafe at school were at least twice as likely to bring a weapon into school, and such negative experiences were more common among boys of color (8%-12%) than among NH white boys (4%-5%). In schools perceived as safer, NH white boys have been more likely to bring weapons into schools than NH Black/African American or Hispanic boys in the past 20 years. Our findings contradict racist prejudice with regard to weapon carrying in schools, particularly in more favorable school environments. Making schools safer may reduce weapon carrying in schools where weapon carrying is most common.

Longitudinal Sociodemographic Analysis of Operative Circumcisions at Children's Hospitals

ObjectiveTo characterize elective, post-neonatal operative circumcision at US children's hospitals, in the context of established sociodemographic disparities in access to neonatal circumcision. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was performed of boys undergoing elective, operative circumcision at the 23 Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) hospitals who contributed data from 2004-2018. Boys > = 36 months’ and those with congenital anomalies of the penis were excluded. Bivariate statistics were used to compare the circumcision cohort to a referent cohort of boys undergoing other ambulatory surgery or having an observational hospital stay. ResultsThe annual median number of operative circumcisions per hospital increased during the study (72 [IQR 54-162] to 136 [IQR 88-266], P = .003). Boys undergoing circumcision were mostly non–Hispanic White (46.7%) or non–Hispanic Black (30.9%), in the lowest income quartile (26.6%), from the Southern US (51.5%), and publicly-insured (60.5%). When compared to the reference cohort, boys undergoing circumcision were more likely to be non–Hispanic Black (30.9 vs 15.7%, P = .001) and publicly-insured (60.5 vs 45.9%, P = . 001). ConclusionThe number of post-neonatal operative circumcisions performed at US children's hospitals nearly doubled from 2004 to 2018. Study findings suggest an emerging healthcare disparity, with non–Hispanic Black boys of lower socioeconomic status undergoing more post-neonatal operative circumcisions that are more expensive and higher risk.

Texas Grade 3 Underrepresented Boys and Economic Status Differences in Reading: A Statewide, Multiyear Study

In this statewide, multiyear analysis, the extent to which differences were present in reading by the economic status of Grade 3 Asian, Black, and Hispanic boys was determined. Specifically examined was the relationship of poverty to the three State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Reading Reporting Categories for Grade 3 Asian, Black, and Hispanic boys in the 2015-2016 through the 2018-2019 school years. Also examined was the relationship of poverty to the STAAR Grade Level Phase-in Standards for Grade 3 Asian, Black, and Hispanic boys. Inferential statistical analyses revealed the presence of statistically significant differences in reading as a function of the economic status of Asian boys, Black boys, and Hispanic boys. In every instance, Asian boys, Black boys, and Hispanic boys who were Poor were outperformed by their counterparts who were Not Poor. Considering the majority of students in Texas come from poverty backgrounds, these findings are of great concern. Implications of these findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Drug Transaction Experiences in American High Schools 2001-2015.

Among adolescents, the pathway from being offered drugs to engaging in drug use has been established. The prevalence of drug transactions specifically in schools is less understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of adolescents who have reported drug transaction experiences (being offered, sold, or given an illegal drug) on school property and subsequently identify behavioral correlates associated with these experiences. This study analyzed YRBS data from 2001 to 2015 (N=117,815). We used 95% confidence intervals to evaluate differences in prevalence across years and demographic subgroups. Odds ratios determined the likelihood of engaging in risk behaviors among those youth also experiencing drug transactions on school property. Every survey year, at least 1 in 5 youth reported having drug transaction experiences at school. Boys consistently reported significantly higher rates of drug transaction experiences in comparison to girls, with Hispanic boys representing the highest rates. Youth reporting these experiences with drug transactions were also more likely to carry a weapon to school and to be bullied at school. Implications for the reduction of drug transactions in high schools are discussed and recommendations for prevention efforts addressing youth engagement in multiple risk behaviors are identified.

Are Correlates of Physical Activity in Adolescents Similar Across Ethnicity/Race and Sex: Implications for Interventions.

This study tested for differences in personal, social, and environmental correlates of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) across ethnicity/race in male and female adolescents. Self-reported MVPA and 47 potential correlates of MVPA were measured in an ethnically/racially diverse cross-sectional sample of adolescents, in Minnesota, who participated in EAT-2010 (Eating and Activity in Teens). Interactions of potential correlates with ethnicity/race on MVPA were tested in linear hierarchical regression models in boys and girls. Boys reported 1.7 more weekly hours of MVPA than girls. White adolescents reported 1.1 to 2.1 more weekly hours of MVPA than nonwhite adolescents. Among girls, neighborhood road connectivity was negatively correlated with MVPA among Hispanic and Asian participants. Among boys, sports participation was positively correlated with MVPA among all ethnicities/races, except Asians. Home media equipment was positively correlated with MVPA among Hispanic boys, but negatively correlated among white boys. A few correlates of physical activity among adolescents differed intersectionally by ethnicity/race and sex. Sports participation and home media equipment may have differing impacts on physical activity across ethnicities and races in boys, whereas neighborhood features like road connectivity may have differing impacts on physical activity across ethnicities and races in girls.

The Effects of Parental Stress on Physical Activity Among Overweight and Obese Hispanic Adolescents: Moderating Role of Family Communication and Gender.

Previous literature has shown a negative relationship between parental stress and youth moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This study examined (1)the relationship between parental stress and adolescent MVPA, (2)the moderating role of family communication on this relationship, and (3)gender differences in these effects among overweight and obese Hispanic adolescents. Hispanic adolescents (N = 280, 52% female, 13.0 [0.8]y old, 44% obese, 12% severely obese) and their parents (88% female, 44.9 [6.5]y old) completed baseline measures for an efficacy trial. Adolescents self-reported MVPA in minutes per week for work, transportation, and recreation using a validated measure. Multiple regression analyses with interaction terms and multigroup methods were conducted. There was a negative effect of parental stress on adolescent MVPA (β = -0.15, t = -2.018, P ≤ .05). This effect was moderated by family communication (β = 0.20, t = 2.471, P = .01), such that the association between parental stress and youth MVPA was stronger for adolescents with low levels of family communication. Furthermore, a multiple group model showed that the interaction was significant for boys (β = 0.27, t = 2.185, P = .03), but not for girls. Findings provide support that addressing parental stress and family communication may help facilitate MVPA among Hispanic boys, the most at-risk group for pediatric obesity.

A mixed methods study of Black Girls' vulnerability to out-of-school suspensions: The intersection of race and gender

Although the disproportionate suspension of Black boys has been a longstanding issue, the apparent vulnerability of Black girls to harsh disciplinary practices is of recent concern to educators and researchers (see Crenshaw, Ocen, & Nanda, 2015). We used a sequential (qual → QUANT) mixed methods design to examine the out-of-school suspension (OSS) of Black girls. In-depth, qualitative interviews explored the experiences of 10 Black middle-school girls with OSSs, their caregivers and educators to generate hypotheses for, and then expand, statewide quantitative analyses. Participants described that Black girls were sanctioned more frequently and more harshly than were whites for the same behaviors. Quantitative analysis of cross-system, administrative data of 7th grade students in the state of Minnesota found that Black girls were overrepresented in OSS relative to white, Asian, and Hispanic boys and girls, and Native girls. Furthermore, Black girls were sanctioned more harshly than were white students for disruptive, disorderly and violent behaviors. Finally, qualitative data suggested strategies to reduce disproportionality in the frequency and severity of OSSs for Black girls. Educators, especially those in leadership roles, can work to eliminate sexual harassment and bullying experienced by Black girls; and create programs to build upon their self-advocacy such as developing supportive communities of other Black girls and trusted adults at school.