Hispanic Cultural Values Research Articles

A Latent Profile Analysis of COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy among Economically Marginalized Hispanic Mothers of Children under Five Years of Age in the US.

Rates of COVID-19 and influenza vaccine coverage among Hispanic young children continue to be low in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. This study utilized a person-centered approach to understand COVID-19 and influenza vaccination hesitancy for young children under the age of five among 309 economically marginalized Hispanic mothers. Drawing on the cultural health belief model, in 2022, following FDA approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for young children, a latent profile analysis was conducted from which three profiles emerged. The Low Acculturation group (Profile 1), was notable for lower acculturation, moderate cultural medical mistrust, lower access to vaccines, and higher financial security. Compared to Profile 1, the two remaining profiles had higher acculturation and lower levels of financial security, but differed in that the High Acculturation group (Profile 2) had higher vaccine accessibility and the Moderate Acculturation group (Profile 3) had higher cultural medical mistrust. Relative to other profiles, Low Acculturation mothers were more likely to plan to vaccinate their child against current and seasonal COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, report that their child's health provider recommended the COVID-19 shot and reported lower COVID-19 and influenza vaccine mistrust. However, they also reported lower vaccine accessibility and moderate levels of cultural medical mistrust. The study highlights the importance of developing person-centered public health strategies that draw on Hispanic cultural values and consider diversity within lower income Hispanic populations to increase future pediatric COVID-19 and flu vaccination coverage among young Hispanic children.

A Cultural Communication Perspective on Hispanic Students’ College Experiences

ABSTRACT Guided by the theoretical assumption that college life is a culturally situated, symbolic process of interaction between students and various others, this qualitative study attempts to explore how minority students’ home culture, which is different from the dominant college culture, helps them make sense of their college experiences. The respondent interviewing method was used to obtain Hispanic students’ responses to questions that allow them to share their experiences, which were centered around student-professor interactions. A total of 112 Hispanic college students from a comprehensive university in South Texas participated in the study. Results confirmed the significance of examining minority students’ college experiences in light of their home culture as they indicated that student experiences were strongly influenced by their Hispanic cultural values. In this study, suggestions for improving Hispanic college experiences are provided.

The Role of Intervention Fidelity, Culture, and Individual-Level Factors on Health-Related Outcomes Among Hispanic Adolescents with Unhealthy Weight: Findings from a Longitudinal Intervention Trial

Previous studies have suggested the impact of intervention fidelity on the management and prevention of chronic diseases; however, little is known about the effect of the contributing determinants (at multiple levels of influence) that can impact health-related interventions intending to improve the health status of Hispanic adolescents with overweight or obesity. The current study aimed to assess whether fidelity (i.e., dosage and quality of the program delivery), acculturation (i.e., orientation to the American culture, retention of Hispanic cultural values), and individual-level socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., income, education) predict changes in family processes (e.g., parent control), which in turn may affect adolescent health-related outcomes including body mass index (BMI), physical activity, dietary intake, and adolescents’ health-related quality of life. A pathway analysis model was utilized to explore the study variables among 140 Hispanic parent-adolescent dyads randomized to Familias Unidas Health and Wellness (FUHW) intervention. Results indicated that fidelity was significantly associated with changes in parent-adolescent communication, parent monitoring, limit-setting, and control. Parents’ education was associated with changes in parent limit-setting, and parent Hispanicism was associated with changes in parent limit-setting and discipline. The examination between family processes and adolescent health outcomes revealed that parents’ higher discipline and improved communication with their adolescents were significantly associated with improved adolescents’ quality of life, and parent control was positively associated with physical activity and negatively associated with BMI in adolescents. Our findings demonstrated the significant contribution of intervention fidelity and participants’ characteristics in parenting strategies leading to adolescents’ health outcomes to prevent obesity-related chronic diseases. Future research is needed to investigate the effect of environmental and organizational factors on the delivery of the intervention materials.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Economically Marginalized Hispanic Parents of Children under Five Years in the United States.

Hispanic children in the US have high rates of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths. Following FDA emergency approval, COVID-19 vaccination rates for young children under five years have been alarmingly low, especially in border states with significant Hispanic populations. This study identified social and cultural determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among economically marginalized Hispanic parents of children under five. In 2022, following FDA approval, 309 Hispanic female guardians in US border states responded to an online survey assessing parental intent to vaccinate their child, demographic characteristics, COVID-19 health and vaccine beliefs, trust in traditional sources of health information, physician and community support, and acculturation to Anglo American norms. The majority (45.6%) did not intend to vaccinate their child or were unsure (22.0%). Kendall's tau-b indicated vaccine acceptance was negatively associated with COVID-19 specific and general vaccine distrust, belief the vaccine was unnecessary, time living in the U.S., and language acculturation (range tb = -0.13 to -0.44; p = 0.05-0.001) and positively related to trust in traditional resources, doctor's recommendation, child's age, household income and parent education (range tb = 0.11 to 0.37; p = 0.05-0.001). This research highlights the importance of COVID-19 vaccination public health strategies that draw on Hispanic cultural values, community partnerships and enhanced pediatrician communication regarding routine and COVID-19-specific vaccinations.

A Phenomenological Study: Challenges for Undergraduate Nontraditional Hispanic Women Students on the Path to Degree Attainment

This study was conducted at a small public university located in New Mexico, in the southwest area of the United States. The purpose of the study was to understand persistence to degree attainment of undergraduate nontraditional Hispanic women (NTHW) students at an institution which is Hispanic-serving (HSI). Challenges for NTHW students on the path to degree attainment include Hispanic cultural values around the homemaker role, attitudes toward higher education, social roles, and finances. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach illuminated understanding of the shared experiences of nine NTHW students. The findings of this study can help HSIs and policymakers understand the educational implications for NTHW students. States like New Mexico, a minority-majority state, would benefit from policies that help increase college completion of its nontraditional Hispanic citizenry.

Cultural Influences on Hispanic Mother-Daughter Communication About Sex.

Hispanic adolescents are at high risk of engaging in sexual risk-taking behaviors. Parent-child communication protects against such behaviors. Among Hispanic families, it is critical to explore how cultural characteristics influence mothers-daughter communication about sex. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how cultural values influence mothers' communication about sex with their early adolescent Hispanic daughters. Twenty-one Hispanic mothers of seventh-grade daughters participated in this focus group study. Directed content analysis was used to analyze the data. Four Hispanic cultural values (familismo, machismo, marianismo, and respeto) and how each value influences mother-daughter communication about sex were identified. While mothers want to protect their daughters, there are multiple cultural norms that made it challenging for them to have critical conversations. The study informs researchers and clinicians how to facilitate parent-child conversations about sex and to equip parents to teach their children how to avoid engaging in sexual risk-taking behaviors.

Sangre Buena, Sangre Mala: a qualitative examination of familismo and aging –Mexican-American men’s heroin use

ABSTRACT This study explored the impact of the Hispanic cultural value of familismo (a focus on, and passionate commitment to, one’s family) on the injection heroin use patterns of a cohort of aging Mexican-American men. An ecological ethnographic approach was applied to 26 in-depth interviews of these men in recovery to determine the influence of familismo on initiation and cessation of heroin use. Iterative analysis revealed that in regard to interpersonal relationships with men, familismo functioned as a risk factor for heroin initiation and continued use. Conversely familismo functioned dialectically as both a risk factor for continued use, and protective factor contributing to recovery, in regard to relationships with women. A better understanding of the gendered impact of familismo on substance use patterns can provide valuable insight to inform the development of culturally grounded or adapted interventions for Hispanics/Latinos.

Intimate Partner Violence Experiences Among Puerto Rican Mothers.

This qualitative, transcendental, phenomenological study explored the subjective experiences of Puerto Rican mothers, aged 18 and older, who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and their perceptions of how provider and law enforcement approaches to screening impacted disclosure. Participant recruitment was coordinated with gatekeepers, and community and domestic violence organizations, who posted bilingual flyers. A total of nine Puerto Rican woman aged 18 and older who experienced IPV participated and agreed to consent to audio-recorded interviews. Data analysis integrated content and thematic procedures, including transcribing, reading, auditing, and coding the interviews based on statements, quotes, and sentences, then grouped into themes that captured the essence of their lived experiences. The IPV was perpetrated primarily by the children's biological fathers and escalated over time. Four of the eight participants (one was lost to follow-up) had been screened while seeking medical care for IPV-related injuries, two disclosed their IPV, and one of the two was provided with a referral for IPV resources. All had multiple previous encounters with law enforcement but were afraid and ashamed to disclose the IPV. Lack of disclosure was associated with Hispanic cultural values and norms that included collectivism or keeping group cohesiveness, familism that socially emphasizes the family unit, marianismo as an ascribed female gender role of self-sacrifice and caregiving, and threats that their children would be removed from the home. Most of the women did not have knowledge of resources available to them and wanted to keep the family unit together. All believed they would be blamed for the incidents. Major implications include the need for multilanguage and multimedia campaigns to improve access to information, transparency with IPV screenings that may influence IPV disclosure, and systemwide education that addresses mother-blaming.

Trauma and cultural values in the health of recently immigrated families.

This study examined Ruiz et al.'s sociocultural model of Hispanic health resilience by assessing trauma exposure and symptoms and Hispanic cultural values in relation to the physical health of 97 Central American immigrant families, within 24 hours of arrival to the United States. Increased posttraumatic stress symptoms, but not exposure, were associated with increased physical health concerns for parents and children. Hispanic cultural values moderated trauma-health relations for adult health only. Identifying posttraumatic stress symptoms as a significant correlate of physical health in Latino immigrant parents and children is critical to identifying vulnerabilities in need of future research and interventions.

Los Seres Humanos Matter: A Hispanic Health Story from Texas.

Latino health deserves intense focus in promoting a just health care system. Despite the surprisingly positive health outcomes associated with the "Hispanic Paradox" phenomenon, the trend of Latino immigrants tending to have better health outcomes than other minorities, linguistic issues persist. The following essay is a combination of actual patient encounters through my experiences serving Spanish-speaking patients, as a medical student and Spanish speaker, and a reflection on the clash between impersonal interpretation services and Hispanic cultural values. I then present potential initiatives to improve rapport in patient encounters while maintaining the standard of care across foreign language barriers.

Texas millennials and their smartphones: A uses and gratifications study

This study of how and why Hispanic millennials at a Texas university use their smartphones employs a uses and gratifications approach. A survey was undertaken to amass data from 214 students who grew up in the state and are regular smartphone users. The gratifications that respondents derive from their smartphones were analysed in light of basic Hispanic cultural values. The findings indicate that Texas Hispanic millennials obtain two main gratifications from smartphone usage: entertainment and connectedness. The authors call for more studies into smartphone use by specific segments of the Hispanic population in various regions of the USA.

Cultural values associated with substance use among Hispanic emerging adults in Southern California

IntroductionHispanic emerging adults are a priority population for substance use prevention, yet few studies have examined whether traditional Hispanic cultural values serve as risk or protective factors for substance use among emerging adults. This study examined the relationship between familism, respeto, fatalism, and substance use among Hispanic emerging adults. MethodsParticipants (ages 18 to 25) completed surveys indicating identification with familism, respeto, and fatalism, past month use of tobacco, marijuana, hard drugs and binge drinking. Separate logistic regression models examined the association between cultural values and each substance use outcome, controlling for acculturation, age and gender. ResultsAmong participants (n=1445, mean age=23, 60% female), 21% reported past month cigarette use, 18% reported past month alternative tobacco product (ATP) use, 25% reported past month marijuana use, 44% reported past month binge drinking, and 7% reported past month hard drug use. Higher fatalism scores were associated with increased ATP use. Higher familism scores were associated with binge drinking, while higher respeto scores were associated with decreased binge drinking, marijuana, and hard drug use. ConclusionThese findings suggest that substance use prevention and intervention programs should emphasize how substance use interferes with caring and honoring parents (respeto) and family cohesion and functioning (familism). Programs that highlight these cultural values and beliefs may be beneficial for Hispanic emerging adults and members of other collectivistic cultures.

Perceptions of Secondhand and Thirdhand Smoke Among Hispanic Residents of Multiunit Housing.

Despite the progressive adoption of smoking bans in public spaces, children living in multi-unit housing remain at risk of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and thirdhand smoke (THS). Hispanic populations in California are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of SHS and THS because a large proportion of Hispanics live in multi-unit housing. Three focus groups were conducted in the fall of 2012 (in Spanish and English, N=24) to understand Hispanics' knowledge of and experiences with SHS and THS, including barriers to avoiding smoke exposure and strategies for protecting their homes from smoke. Hispanic residents reported unpleasant experiences with SHS and THS and were generally knowledgeable about the adverse health effects, although they were not familiar with the term "thirdhand smoke." Some participants also mentioned marijuana smoke as a potential health hazard. Hispanic cultural values made participants reluctant to confront their neighbors but also motivated them to find ways to protect their families from smoke. Potential solutions included working with the smokers to designate a smoking area and gaining support from the building owners. Broad smoking policies should be implemented to help Hispanic residents overcome cultural and social barriers to smoke free air.

Association of acculturation with drinking games among Hispanic college students

Objective: This cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate which components of acculturation relate to drinking games participation among Hispanic college students. We also sought to examine whether the relationships between acculturation and drinking games would differ from the associations between acculturation and other alcohol-related outcomes. Method: A sample of 1,397 Hispanic students aged 18–25 (75% women; 77% US-born) from 30 US colleges and universities completed a confidential online survey. Results: Associations among acculturative processes, drinking games participation, general alcohol consumption, and negative drinking consequences differed across gender. Most significant findings emerged in the domain of cultural practices. For women, US cultural practices were associated with greater general alcohol consumption, drinking games frequency, and amount of alcohol consumed while gaming, whereas for men, US cultural practices were associated with general alcohol consumption and negative drinking consequences. Conclusions: Hispanic and US cultural practices, values, and identifications were differentially associated with drinking games participation, and these associations differed by gender. It is therefore essential for college student alcohol research to examine US culture acquisition and Hispanic culture retention separately and within the domains of cultural practices, values, and identifications.

Making Me Feel Comfortable: Developing Trust in the Nurse for Mexican Americans.

Trust (confianza) is an important component of patient-centered care and culturally competent care and a major element in the Hispanic culture. The aim of this study was to conceptualize the process of the development of interpersonal trust by hospitalized patients in their nurses. Using the grounded theory method, English-speaking Mexican American patients (N = 22) were interviewed. The core category was Making Me Feel Comfortable. The cyclical process included a beginning stage (Having Needs, Relying on the Nurse), middle stage (Coming Across to Me, Taking Care of Me, Connecting), and end point (Feeling Confianza) with two outcomes (Confiding in the Nurse, Taking Away the Negative). Anytime there was a negative element during the middle stage, this element halted any further development of trust with the nurse. Unique findings were related to Hispanic cultural values of familism and personalismo. The findings have implications which impact patient safety and quality care.

From “Kickeando las malias” (Kicking the Withdrawals) to “Staying clean”: The Impact of Cultural Values on Cessation of Injection Drug Use in Aging Mexican-American Men

Drug use among older adults is a growing concern, particularly for the burgeoning Hispanic population. Older adults seeking drug treatment will double over the next decade to almost 6 million. Cultural factors influence drug use, and more specifically, Hispanic cultural values influence heroin use. This study explored Mexican-American injection drug users’ adherence to traditional Hispanic cultural values and their impact on cessation. Ethnographic interviews endorsed contextualized influences of values on heroin use. Cultural values functioned dichotomously, influencing both initiation and cessation. Understanding the impact of cultural values on substance abuse is critical given the changing demographics in American society.

Domains of acculturation and their effects on substance use and sexual behavior in recent Hispanic immigrant adolescents.

This study evaluated the immigrant paradox by ascertaining the effects of multiple components of acculturation on substance use and sexual behavior among recently immigrated Hispanic adolescents primarily from Mexico (35%) and Cuba (31%). A sample of 302 adolescents (53% boys; mean age 14.51years) from Miami (n = 152) and Los Angeles (n = 150) provided data on Hispanic and US cultural practices, values, and identifications at baseline and provided reports of cigarette use, alcohol use, sexual activity, and unprotected sex approximately 1year later. Results indicated strong gender differences, with the majority of significant findings emerging for boys. Supporting the immigrant paradox (i.e., that becoming oriented toward US culture is predictive of increased health risks), individualist values predicted greater numbers of oral sex partners and unprotected sex occasions for boys. However, contrary to the immigrant paradox, for boys, both US practices and US identification predicted less heavy drinking, fewer oral and vaginal/anal sex partners, and less unprotected vaginal/anal sex. Ethnic identity (identification with one's heritage culture) predicted greater numbers of sexual partners but negatively predicted unprotected sex. Results indicate a need for multidimensional, multi-domain models of acculturation and suggest that more work is needed to determine the most effective ways to culturally inform prevention programs.

Acculturation and drug use disorders among Hispanics in the U.S.

The authors' objective was to examine the relationship between degree of acculturation across five different dimensions of acculturation and risk of drug use disorders (DUD) among US Hispanics.Data were derived from a large national sample of the US adult population, the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, collected using face-to-face interviews. The sample included civilian non-institutionalized U.S. population aged 18 years and older, with oversampling of Hispanics, Blacks and those aged 18–24 years. Interviews of more than 34,000 adults were conducted during 2004–2005 using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule – DSM-IV Version. A total of 6359 subjects who identified themselves as Hispanics were included in this study. Acculturation measures used in this study assessed:, time spent in the U.S., age at immigration, language preference, social network composition, and ethnic identification.Among Hispanics, there was an inverse relationship between five complementary dimensions of acculturation and DUD. Moreover, this relationship showed a significant gradient across all acculturation dimensions and DUD.The prevalence of DUD increases with acculturation in Hispanics, across several measures of acculturation in a dose–response relationship. Hispanic cultural features and values exert a protective effect on risk of DUD. Preservation and promotion of Hispanic values may be an important component of preventive interventions for Hispanics.

Cancer Screening Barriers for Community-based Older Hispanics and Caucasians

Despite advances in screening and early detection, ethnic minority populations, ages 65 and older, are less likely than Caucasians to participate in cancer screening services. Empirical research indicates that older ethnic minorities have cultural values that influence their behaviors. Addressing culturally relevant communication to better understand those values may increase participation in cancer screening. The study reported is a secondary analysis of qualitative data gathered from focus groups. Utilizing an interdisciplinary analytical lens, we compared older Hispanic and Caucasian's cultural values and their screening behaviors. Suggested psychosocial interventions are discussed to assist providers in their ongoing efforts to promote cancer screening.

Acculturation, Enculturation, and Symptoms of Depression in Hispanic Youth: The Roles of Gender, Hispanic Cultural Values, and Family Functioning

The risk for depression increases as Hispanic youth acculturate to U.S. society. This association is stronger for Hispanic girls than boys. To better understand the influence of culture and family on depressive symptoms, we tested a process-oriented model of acculturation, cultural values, and family functioning. The data came from Project RED, which included 1,922 Hispanic students (53 % girls; 86 % were 14 years old; and 84 % were U.S. born) from Southern California. We used data from 9th to 11th grade to test the influence of acculturation-related experiences on depressive symptoms over time. Multi-group structural equation analysis suggested that both family conflict and cohesion were linked with depressive symptoms. Hispanic cultural values were associated with family cohesion and conflict but the strength and direction of these relationships varied across cultural values and gender. For girls and boys, familismo and respeto were associated with higher family cohesion and lower family conflict. Moreover, gender roles were linked with higher family cohesion in girls but not in boys. These results indicate that improving family functioning will be beneficial for boys' and girls' psychological well-being. This may be achieved by promoting familismo and respeto for boys and girls and by promoting traditional gender roles for girls.