Latino Youth Research Articles

Built environment in programs to promote physical activity among Latino children and youth living in the United States and in Latin America.

SummaryTo prevent obesity among Latino youth in the United States and Latin America, it is necessary to understand the specific context and interplay of physical activity (PA) and the built environment (BE). This paper aims to advance the research agenda of BE and PA for obesity prevention in Latin America and among Latino youth in the United States by (1) identifying environmental indicators to inform the design of interventions and policy, (2) identifying interdisciplinary methodological approaches for the study of the complex association between BE and PA, and (3) presenting case studies of PA‐promoting BE programs. A group of U.S. and Latin American scientists collaboratively worked to propose innovative indicators of the BE, methodological approaches for the study of the complex association between BE and PA, and review case studies of PA‐promoting BE programs in both regions. The results identified gaps in knowledge, proposed environmental indicators (e.g., landscape, street design, mobility patterns, and crime and safety), reviewed methodological approaches (social network analysis, citizen science methods), and case studies illustrating PA‐promoting BE programs (i.e., play streets, active school transport, and school setting interventions). The obesity prevention among Latino and Latin American youth requires advanced research on BE and PA addressing context‐specific priorities and exchanging lessons learned.

Skin Carotenoid Scores Assessed with Reflection Spectroscopy Are Associated with Self-Reported Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Latino Early Adolescents

BackgroundLatino early adolescents have a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Interventions to address healthy eating among Latino youth frequently focus on fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. Reflection spectroscopy assessed skin carotenoid (SC) levels has been proposed as an easy, noninvasive method to evaluate FV intake, but validation studies involving ethnically diverse youth are lacking. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the association between reflection spectroscopy-measured SC scores and self-reported FV intake among low-income, urban, Latino early adolescents, controlling for potential confounding factors. DesignThis study was a cross-sectional secondary analysis of baseline data from a community-based intervention program (Padres Preparados, Jóvenes Saludables) involving Latino fathers and adolescents to improve paternal parenting practices and youth energy balance-related behaviors. Participants/settingParticipants were 195 low-income, Latino early adolescents (aged 10 to 14 years). Data were collected in the Minneapolis/St Paul metropolitan area from 2017 to 2020 during fall or winter months. Main outcome measuresSC scores were measured using reflection spectroscopy, usual intakes of FV and carotenoid compounds were estimated based on the assessment using 24-hour dietary recalls. Statistical analysisMultivariable linear regression analyses were used to estimate associations of SC scores and each dietary component and potential confounding factors after assessing variables for inclusion in the analyses. ResultsThe mean SC score was 225 ± 95. The mean FV and total carotenoid intakes were 3.3 ± 0.5 servings/day and 8,360 ± 786 μg/day, respectively. Higher SC scores were observed among youth who had higher FV (β = .37 and P < 0.01) or total carotenoid intakes (β = .31 and P < 0.01). SC scores measured during fall were higher than scores measured during winter. Study participants with higher home FV availability and accessibility had higher SC scores. ConclusionsFindings supported using SC score as a potential easy-to-use indicator of FV intake among Latino youth with consideration of seasonal variation and home FV availability and accessibility.

The mediation process between Latino youths' family ethnic socialization, ethnic-racial identity, and academic engagement: Moderation by ethnic-racial discrimination?

Guided by García Coll and colleagues' (1996) integrative model for the study of developmental competencies in minority children, the current study examined the role of ethnic-racial identity as a mediator through which family ethnic socialization was associated with academic engagement among Latino youth. Furthermore, based on the high prevalence rates of ethnic-racial discrimination among Latino adolescents, the associations between experiences with peer and adult discrimination and youth's academic engagement (controlling for family ethnic socialization and ethnic-racial identity) were tested. Finally, we tested whether discrimination from either peers or adults moderated the mediation process between family ethnic socialization, ethnic-racial identity, and academic engagement. Data were collected from a cross-sectional study of adolescents in the Southwestern United States. Participants in the current study consisted of self-identified Latino adolescents (N = 370; Mage = 16.14 years; SD = 1.12; Range = 14-18; 52.8% female; 96.2% U.S.-born) who completed self-administered surveys during school hours. Path analyses indicated that family ethnic socialization was indirectly associated with academic engagement via ethnic-racial identity. Adult discrimination was negatively associated with academic engagement; however, peer discrimination was not associated with academic engagement. Finally, neither source of discrimination emerged as a moderator of the associations of interest. Findings point to Latino youth's enhanced resilience against discrimination encounters when they have more experiences with family ethnic socialization and have engaged in greater ethnic-racial identity exploration and resolution. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Family dynamics moderate the impact of discrimination on wellbeing for Latino young adults.

This study examined family dynamics as a moderator of the association between discrimination and both depression and life satisfaction for Latino youth. Specifically, we hypothesized that discrimination would have a negative impact on depression and life satisfaction. We also hypothesized that negative family dynamics would compound the negative impact of discrimination, whereas positive family dynamics would buffer against the impact of discrimination on depression and life satisfaction. Participants were 229 Latino youth (Mage = 22.40, SD = 2.46, % female = 81.7) from a diverse region who completed measures of perceived discrimination, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and family relationship dynamics. Regression models were used to test both direct associations and moderation (i.e., interaction effects) between these variables. Findings indicated that negative aspects of family dynamics marginally exacerbated the link between discrimination and depression and life satisfaction, and were also directly associated with these outcomes. Family positivity significantly moderated the association between discrimination and both depression and life satisfaction. However, positive aspects of family dynamics were only associated with more positive outcomes when discrimination was minimal to absent. Family dynamics moderated the association between discrimination and both depression and life satisfaction in Latino youth. However, family dynamics did not appear sufficient to buffer against the negative impact of discrimination, suggesting that even positive and cohesive families cannot buffer youth from discrimination. Marginal findings suggest that negative family dynamics compound the negative impact of discrimination. Implications for improving the mental health of Latino youth through targeting both discrimination and family dynamics are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Multiple dimensions of acculturation and the victimization of Latino adolescents.

Little research focuses on the multiple dimensions of acculturation (Anglo orientation, Latino orientation, familial support, immigrant status), their interaction, and the victimization of Latino youth. This study examined these relationships for various forms of violence, including dating violence, conventional crime, child maltreatment, peer and sibling victimization, sexual victimization, and stalking. Data came from the Dating Violence Among Latino Adolescents (DAVILA) study, which recruited a national sample of 1,525 Latino teens between 12 and 18 years of age. Logistic regression results showed that familial support was related to significantly lower odds of all types of victimization. Additionally, Latino orientation was related to both lower odds of any victimization and higher odds of polyvictimization. Anglo orientation and immigrant status were also protective of conventional crime, sexual victimization, and polyvictimization. Adding interaction effects revealed that the influence of Anglo orientation varied as a function of Latino orientation for several forms of victimization and also varied by immigrant status for conventional crime, dating violence, and sexual violence. Lastly, a 3-way interaction between Anglo orientation, Latino orientation, and immigrant status influenced the probability of sexual victimization. Anglo orientation, Latino orientation, familial support, and immigrant status showed protective qualities, but the trends were specific to victimization type, and interactions surfaced. The findings point to the need for prevention and intervention efforts that strengthen families and embrace both Latino and Anglo cultures for Latino teens, fostering biculturalism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Parental School‐Involvement and Substance Use? A Novel Family‐Based Prevention Strategy for Latino Youth

ObjectiveTo examine the association of parental school involvement with reductions in adolescent substance initiation among Latino immigrant youth.BackgroundParental school involvement is an important determinant of children's academic achievement. Likewise, academic achievement is associated with multiple adolescent health risk behaviors. Little research has examined whether parental school involvement is associated with adolescent drug use, and no research has examined this link among Latino immigrant youth.MethodUsing a census of Latino students (N = 661; mean age = 13.1 years) in 12 urban middle schools, we used a multilevel model with zero‐inflated outcomes to test whether (a) parental school involvement is inversely associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; (b) school‐level parental involvement affects individual‐level drug use; and (c) child gender moderates these associations.ResultsParental school involvement was negatively associated with lifetime prevalence of all substances and with increases in the age of first alcohol use. School‐level parental involvement was negatively associated with lifetime prevalence of substance use and age of first use for girls and marginally significant with boys.ConclusionParental school involvement is a promising target for prevention efforts to reduce early‐onset substance use.ImplicationsParental school involvement may address multiple negative outcomes in youth even for youth whose parents are relatively uninvolved, and may increase program dosage.

Patterns of Asthma Medication Use across the Transition to High School.

Adherence to asthma controller medications is suboptimal among adolescents. We evaluated predictors of adherence and longitudinal patterns of medication use between 8th and 10th grade among a sample of youth of diverse race/ethnicity. Eighth graders with asthma on controller medications (N = 62; 40.0% non-Latino white; 23.7% Black; 37.3% Latino; 37.3% female) completed measures of medication beliefs, responsibility for asthma management, and family cohesion. Objective methods tracked medication use longitudinally. Adherence declined during the high school transition, from 48.0% in eighth grade to 34.1% in tenth grade (F = 5.35, p < .01). Males had lower adherence (b = -10.11, SE = 5.37, p = .02, f2 = 0.11), as did Latino youth (b = -12.21, SE = 8.23, p = .03, f2 = 0.12). Family cohesion was associated with higher adherence (b = 4.38, SE = 1.98, p = .04, f2 = 0.06). Latent class models (LCMs) suggested a three-class model of longitudinal adherence patterns. This included low, declining adherence (Class 1 = 29%; higher proportion male, p = .02), high, sustained adherence (Class 2 = 26%, high family cohesion, p = .05, higher proportion female, p = .02), and low, sustained adherence (Class 3 = 45%; higher proportion Latino, p = .05, higher proportion male, p = .02). Asthma medication adherence declined between 8th and 10th grade. LCMs indicated some youth have stable patterns of adherence (high or low), whereas others demonstrate declines. Gender differences were observed, and family cohesion was associated with higher, sustained adherence. Interventions building on family resources and targeting the barriers adolescents face are necessary to improve asthma management during this vulnerable period.

Living Under the Shadows: Experiences of Latino Immigrant Families at Risk for Deportation

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the experiences of Latino youth and their parents who are at risk for detainment or deportation to gain an in‐depth understanding of the impact of the risk for parental deportation on psychosocial well‐being.BackgroundChildren born in the United States to foreign‐born parents comprise approximately 27% of the U.S. population. Approximately 5.7 million U.S.‐born children live with parents without legal residency documentation, and nearly 500,000 children had at least one parent detained or deported over a 2‐year period. There is a high risk for negative child and family outcomes associated with parental deportation.MethodA constructivist grounded theory design was used to complete semistructured interviews with families (N = 16) at risk for parental deportation. A quantitative trauma assessment was used to triangulate qualitative findings.ResultsResults indicated four core themes: (a) parents and youth experience emotional distress associated with the risk of deportation, (b) parents and youth experience injustices associated with the threat of deportation, (c) children experience their freedoms as conditional, and (d) children suffer.ConclusionsConcepts from ambiguous loss and developmental trauma may aid our understanding of family emotional distress associated with the risk for deportation and improve family services aimed to promote family well‐being.ImplicationsFamily scholar‐advocate and scholar‐activist approaches, in which we use our positions of privilege to educate others about the needs of underserved families, may be helpful for families at‐risk for deportation.

Effects of a 12-Week Lifestyle Intervention on Novel Biomarkers for Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in Obese Latino Youth

In obese non-diabetic youth, glucose response curve (GRC) and 1-hr glucose concentration during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) represent novel biomarkers for T2D risk. Obese youth with monophasic- vs. biphasic-GRC and 1-hr glucose concentration of ≥155 (Above155) vs. &lt;155 mg/dL (Below155) are at increased risk for T2D. However, to date, it is unknown whether these OGTT-derived phenotypes can be improved in response to any interventions, thereby hindering their practical use as indicators of intervention effectiveness. The purpose of this was to investigate the effects of lifestyle intervention on OGTT-GRC and 1-hr glucose concentration in obese Latino youth at increased risk for T2D. Sixteen obese Latino youth (age 15.6±0.9 years; 7M/9F; body mass index %tile=98.3±1.2) completed a 12-week lifestyle intervention that included weekly nutrition education and 180 minutes of moderate-vigorous exercise per week. All participants completed a 2-hr OGTT before and after the lifestyle intervention to assess changes in OGTT-GRC &amp; 1-hr glucose as well as other pathophysiological risk factors including insulin sensitivity index, insulinogenic index, and oral disposition index (oDI). Chi-square and paired t test were used to compare changes in response to the intervention. At baseline, the prevalence of biphasic-GRC and Below155 was 12.5% and 43.8%, respectively. After the 12-week intervention, OGTT-derived phenotypes were improved, exhibiting significant increases in the prevalence of biphasic-GRC (37.5%, P=0.05) and Below155 (75%, P=0.042). Together with improvement on GRC and 1-hr glucose, oDI was enhanced (Pre: 7.36 ± 6.20 vs. Post: 8.16 ± 5.13, P&lt;0.05), despite no improvement in insulin sensitivity index and insulinogenic index. A 12-week lifestyle intervention is efficacious in improving glucose response curve and 1-hr glucose concentration during an OGTT in conjunction with ß-cell improvement in obese Latino youth. Our data further suggest that these emerging T2D risk biomarkers have prospective utility in terms of assessing change following interventions/therapeutic trials.

The Association of the Parent-Child Language Acculturation Gap with Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk in Hispanic/Latino Youth: Results from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth).

Hispanic/Latino youth are disproportionately burdened by obesity and have a high prevalence of prediabetes and dyslipidemia. Differences in parent and child acculturation related to language use and preference (i.e., language acculturation) are associated with adverse cardiometabolic health behaviors, but no study has examined associations with cardiometabolic markers. To determine whether discordance in parent-child language acculturation (parent-child acculturation gap) was associated with poor youth cardiometabolic health. Hispanic/Latino 8-16-year-olds (n = 1,466) and parents from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth) were examined. Mean scores for the Brief ARSMA-II's Anglo (AOS) and Latino (LOS) Orientation Scales represented language acculturation. Cardiometabolic markers included youth body mass index (BMI) percentile, blood pressure percentiles, and dysglycemia and hyperlipidemia measures. Missing data were imputed. Survey-weighted multivariable linear regression examined the association of youth, parent, and youth × parent (the acculturation gap) AOS and LOS scores separately with each cardiometabolic marker. Youth reported greater English and lower Spanish use than parents. Greater discordance in AOS scores was associated with elevated BMI percentile only (p-for-interaction < .01). The LOS acculturation gap was not associated with any outcome. Adjustment for acculturative stress, family functioning and closeness, parenting style, and youth's diet and physical activity did not alter findings. Removal of nonsignificant acculturation gaps did not indicate an association between individual youth or parent AOS or LOS scores and any cardiometabolic marker. Discordance in Hispanic/Latino parent-child dyads' English use may relate to increased risk for childhood obesity. Future studies should identify mediators of this association.

Adverse childhood experiences and its association with emotional and behavioral problems in U.S. children of Latino immigrants

BackgroundResearch has long shown that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are correlated with major risk factors for several of the leading causes of death in adults. However, only recently have studies begun to measure the impact of ACEs during childhood and on underserved populations. ObjectiveThis study assessed the prevalence of 8 ACEs, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, among rural U.S. Latino children of immigrant parents. We examined the association of those adversities with several factors including emotional and behavioral difficulties, health problems and healthcare utilization. Participants and settingA total of 100 Latino subjects (ages 8–17) were recruited from a community health center in Southwest Florida. MethodsParents and children were asked to complete the Child Trust Events Survey to measure child ACEs; Parents were asked to complete the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to measure child emotional and behavioral problems. ResultsChild ACEs ranged from 1.38 (parent-report) to 1.56 (child self-report) with emotional abuse, incarceration, and loss/separation from a caregiver being the most common. ACEs were correlated with emotional symptoms (p = .038 for child-report; p = .043 for parent-report), hyperactivity/inattention problems (p = .011 for parent-report), and with total behavioral difficulties (p = .021 for parent-report). There was a negative correlation between ACES and child chronic health diagnosis (p = .038 for parent-report; p = .010 for child-report) and total health problems (p = .021). There was no significant relationship between ACEs and healthcare utilization. ConclusionsACEs appear to be more prevalent among rural Latino youth in immigrant families and may be associated with emotional and behavioral problems during childhood.

Acculturation and ethnic group differences in well-being among Somali, Latino, and Hmong adolescents.

Research addressing the linkages between acculturation and markers of adolescent well-being across multiple ethnic minority groups is limited in scope and breadth, even though children of immigrant origin are the fastest growing population. We examined cross-sectional relationships between acculturation and substance use, socioemotional well-being, and academic achievement. Somali, Latino, and Hmong adolescents in Minnesota provided data as part of the EAT 2010 (Eating and Activity in Teens) cohort study (N = 1,066). Acculturation was based on nativity, language usually spoken at home, and length of residence in the United States. Chi-square, ANOVA, and regression models were used to test for differences in adolescent well-being by acculturation and ethnic group, and interaction terms were added to models to test effect modification by ethnicity. Hmong adolescents had the highest mean acculturation scores (4.4 ± 1.5), whereas Somali adolescents (2.2 ± 1.8) were the least acculturated. Independent of ethnicity, acculturation was positively associated with marijuana (OR: 1.38; CI [1.25, 1.53]) and alcohol use (OR: 1.12; CI [1.02, 1.22]), and was negatively associated with academic achievement, based on grade point average (β = -0.07; CI [-0.12, -0.03]). Interaction effects indicated significant differences by ethnicity only for academic achievement; significant associations between acculturation and academic achievement were evident only for Somali and Latino youth. Prevention programming should include supports for multilingual and multicultural learners and account for cultural assets within immigrant origin families that maintain and nurture protective factors as adolescents acculturate and transition into young adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Patterns of Sedentary Time in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Youth.

Total sedentary time and prolonged sedentary patterns can negatively impact health. This study investigated rates of various sedentary pattern variables in Hispanic/Latino youth. Participants were 956 youths (50.9% female) in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Youth, a population-based cohort study of Hispanic/Latino 8- to 16-year-olds from 4 geographic regions in the United States (2012-2014). Total sedentary time and 10 sedentary pattern variables were measured through 1 week of accelerometer wear. Differences were examined by sociodemographic characteristics, geographic location, weekdays versus weekends, and season. On average, youth were sedentary during 67.3% of their accelerometer wear time, spent 24.2% engaged in 10- to 29-minute sedentary bouts, and 7.2% in ≥60-minute bouts. 8- to 12-year-olds had more favorable sedentary patterns (less time in extended bouts and more breaks) than 13- to 16-year-olds across all sedentary variables. Sedentary patterns also differed by Hispanic/Latino background, with few differences across sex, household income, season, and place of birth, and none between weekdays versus weekends. Variables representing prolonged sedentary time were high among Hispanic/Latino youth. Adolescents in this group appear to be at especially high risk for unhealthy sedentary patterns. Population-based efforts are needed to prevent youth from engaging in increasingly prolonged sedentary patterns.

Design and rationale for ADAPT+: Optimizing an intervention to promote healthy behaviors in rural, Latino youth with obesity and their parents, using mindfulness strategies

Latino youth living in rural areas represent an ethnic and geographical minority population at increased risk for obesity and obesity-related complications. We previously modified our child obesity intervention to be a multi-family behavioral intervention, Adaptando Dieta y Acción Para Todos (ADAPT), to better meet the needs of our target population, rural Latino youth with obesity (8–12 years old) and their parents. Recognizing the role of parent stress on obesity, the main goal of this study is to 1) further refine and optimize the original ADAPT multi-family behavioral obesity intervention protocol to include mindfulness parent stress reduction strategies (now called ADAPT+) and then 2) assess the feasibility of ADAPT+ implementation via a small randomized control trial (RCT) with rural Latino families. Two aims guide the study. For Aim 1 we conduct a series of focus groups with stakeholders and parents, and then conduct a one-arm trial with both parents and their children to obtain feedback for further refining each of our eight integrated ADAPT+ sessions. Aim 2 tests the acceptability and feasibility of our intervention with multi-family groups of Latinos in two rural communities over time (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up) in a randomized pilot trial (ADAPT+ vs. Enhanced Usual Care [EUC] comparison). This study is intended to set the groundwork for a larger clinical trial to test ADAPT+'s efficacy to improve rural Latino families' eating and physical activity behaviors.

Book review: The Digital Edge: How Black and Latino Youth Navigate Digital Inequality

Book review: The Digital Edge: How Black and Latino Youth Navigate Digital Inequality

Exploring Disproportionate Minority Contact in the Juvenile Justice System Over the Year Following First Arrest.

Minority youth are disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice system. Examining how racial disparities relate to biased entry into and continued involvement with the system, while accounting for past and current offending, can provide context about the mechanisms behind overrepresentation. 1,216 adolescents were examined after first arrest to explore associations between race and history of self-reported offending, likelihood of formal processing, and likelihood of rearrest. Black youth committed fewer offenses prior to arrest than White youth, Black and Latino youth were more likely to be formally processed, and Black youth were most likely to be rearrested (even controlling for postbaseline offending), highlighting that minority youth are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system despite similar or lower levels of criminal behavior.

Facilitating Change in Drinking Cognitions and Behaviors Among Three Immigrant Generations of Latinx Youth Through a School-Based Intervention: Findings From a Multi-Site Clinical Trial.

Latinx youth experience disparities in the availability of and participation in evidence-based interventions to reduce hazardous alcohol use. The aim of this secondary data analysis was to examine whether Project Options, a brief, evidence-based alcohol use intervention was beneficial for Latinx participants. A total of 331 first-, second-, and third-generation immigrant Latina and Latino youth who participated in a multi-site, hybrid effectiveness/efficacy clinical trial of the intervention were selected for analyses. Mixed-effects growth models tested changes in drinking cognitions (i.e., perception of peer drinking, intention to drink next month, alcohol use and cessation expectancies) and behaviors (i.e., number of past-month drinking days, average number of drinks per occasion, and maximum number of drinks per occasion) across three time points (i.e., baseline, 4-weeks, and 12-weeks). Consistent with prior Project Options studies, participants with more drinking experience reported greater decreases in perception of peer drinking, intentions to drink next month, and all drinking behaviors than those with less experience. While no changes were observed in expectancies, first-generation participants endorsed lower positive use expectancies than second- and third-generation youth as well as more favorable cessation expectancies than third-generation teens. In concert with prior studies demonstrating the intervention's success in recruitment and retention of Latinx participants, results suggest that Project Options might be a promising school-based intervention for Latinx youth. This intervention has the potential to reach adolescents who might otherwise not participate in traditional programming and help decrease disparities in availability of evidence-based practices for Latinx youth.

A genome-wide association study of severe asthma exacerbations in Latino children and adolescents.

Severe asthma exacerbations are a major cause of school absences and healthcare costs in children, particularly those in high-risk racial/ethnic groups.To identify susceptibility genes for severe asthma exacerbations in Latino children and adolescents, we conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in 4010 Latino youth with asthma in four independent cohorts, including 1693 Puerto Ricans, 1019 Costa Ricans, 640 Mexicans, 256 Brazilians and 402 members of other Latino subgroups. We then conducted methylation quantitative trait locus, expression quantitative trait locus and expression quantitative trait methylation analyses to assess whether the top single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the meta-analysis is linked to DNA methylation and gene expression in nasal (airway) epithelium in separate cohorts of Puerto Rican and Dutch children and adolescents.In the meta-analysis of GWAS, an SNP in FLJ22447 (rs2253681) was significantly associated with 1.55 increased odds of severe asthma exacerbation (95% CI 1.34-1.79, p=6.3×10-9). This SNP was significantly associated with DNA methylation of a CpG site (cg25024579) at the FLJ22447 locus, which was in turn associated with increased expression of KCNJ2-AS1 in nasal airway epithelium from Puerto Rican children and adolescents (β=0.10, p=2.18×10-7).SNP rs2253681 was significantly associated with both DNA methylation of a cis-CpG in FLJ22447 and severe asthma exacerbations in Latino youth. This may be partly explained by changes in airway epithelial expression of a gene recently implicated in atopic asthma in Puerto Rican children and adolescents (KCNJ2-AS1).

Association of Maternal Citizenship and State-Level Immigrant Policies With Health Insurance Coverage Among US-Born Latino Youths

The association of state-level immigrant policies with uninsurance among Latino youths remains unknown. To assess the association of state-level immigrant integration and criminalization policies with health insurance coverage among US-born Latino youths by maternal citizenship. This cross-sectional study analyzed secondary data from the American Community Survey, January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018, for US-born Latino youths (age, ≤17 years) and their mothers (age, 18-64 years) as well as state-level indicators of immigrant integration and criminalization policies (in all 50 states and the District of Columbia). Immigrant integration and criminalization policies. The main outcome was maternal reports of youth uninsurance status at the time of the American Community Survey interview. Variation in youth uninsurance by maternal citizenship, state immigrant integration policy context, and state immigrant criminalization policy context were examined. All analyses were conducted with weighted survey data. Of the 226 691 US-born Latino youths (115 431 [50.92%] male; mean [SD] age, 7.66 [4.92] years) included in the study, 36.64% (95% CI, 36.21%-36.92%) had noncitizen mothers. Overall, 7.09% (95% CI, 6.78%-7.41%) of noncitizen mothers reported that their youths were uninsured compared with 4.68% (95% CI, 4.49%-4.88%) of citizen mothers. Of uninsured youths who resided in states with a low level of immigrant integration policies, 9.10% (8.22%-10.06%) had noncitizen mothers and 4.75% (95% CI, 4.19%-5.37%) had citizen mothers; of uninsured youths who resided in states with high criminalization policies, 9.37% (95% CI, 8.90%-9.87%) had noncitizen mothers and 5.91% (95% CI, 5.64%-6.20%) had citizen mothers. In states with few immigrant integration policies, the probability of uninsurance among youths with noncitizen mothers was 3.3% (95% CI, 2.3%-4.4%) higher than that among youths with citizen mothers. Among youths with noncitizen mothers, the difference in the probability of uninsurance between those residing in states with a low level vs a high level of immigrant integration policies was 2.1% (95% CI, 0.6%-3.6%). Among youths residing in states with high levels of immigrant criminalization policies, those with noncitizen mothers had a 2.6% (95% CI, 1.9%-3.0%) higher probability of being uninsured compared with those whose mothers were citizens. Among youths with noncitizen mothers, the difference in the probability of uninsurance between those who resided in a state with a low level vs a state with a high level of immigrant criminalization policies was 1.7% (95% CI, 0.7%-2.7%). The findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that among US-born Latino youths, disparities in uninsurance by maternal citizenship are associated with state-level immigrant integration and criminalization policies and that anti-immigrant policies may be associated with disparities in health care access for US-born Latino youths.

Life Domains and Dating Violence Among Latino Youth: A Partial Test of Agnew’s Integrated General Theory

In 2005, Agnew presented a new theoretical framework for understanding crime and delinquency. To date, this theory has not been thoroughly tested among various populations and types of crime. To address this gap in the research, the present study analyzes data gathered from the Dating Violence Among Latino Adolescents Study, providing a partial test of Agnew’s integrated general theory to determine its applicability to dating violence perpetration among Latino youth. Results from 669 Latino respondents showed that the theory’s constructs are modestly associated with perpetrating dating violence among this study population. Concepts depicting self (anger) and peer (peer bullying) domains are associated with the dependent variable, while school (school performance) and family (family support) domains were found to be nonsignificant. Among control and demographic variables, age, sex, depression, anxiety, and past dating victimization were also significant, while enculturation was nonsignificant. Overall, results are indicative of partial support for the theory. Prevention and intervention strategies based on the study’s findings targeted at reducing dating violence perpetration, such as recognizing signs of anger and reducing peer bullying victimization, are discussed.