Lower Levels Of Acculturation Research Articles

Perceived discrimination, psychosocial resources, and mental distress in Vietnamese Americans

This study examines how the mental health of Vietnamese Americans is influenced by a life stressor (perceived discrimination) and psychosocial resources (social network, religiosity, and acculturation). Data came from 513 Vietnamese Americans who were subsample of the Asian American Quality of Life (AAQoL) survey (total N = 2,614). The AAQoL survey was conducted with self-identified Asian Americans aged 18 or older in Central Texas in 2015. More than 32% of the Vietnamese sample reported perceived discrimination. A higher level of mental distress was associated with younger age, unmarried status, unmet financial status, poorer ratings of health, fewer years of stay in the U.S., perceived discrimination, smaller social network, and lower levels of acculturation and religiosity. In a multivariate analysis, the experience of discrimination (β = 0.16, p < .01), smaller social network (β = −.10, p < .05), and lower acculturation (β = −.17, p < .05) were found to be significant predictors to mental distress. No significant interaction was found. These identified risks and resources should be addressed in developing and implementing culturally sensitive mental health interventions targeted to Vietnamese American communities.

Physical Health Constraints and Psychological Distress in Older Asian Americans: The Role of Perceived Health

Given the importance of understanding the underlying dynamics of physical and mental health in old age, the present study explored the roles of physical health constraints in predicting subjective health perception and psychological distress among older Asian Americans. Guided by the Health Belief Model, we also examined whether subjective health perception would function as a mediator in the link between physical health constraints and psychological distress. Using data from 533 Asian Americans aged 60 and over (mean age=69.4, SD=6.88) in the 2016 Asian American Quality of Life Study, the direct and indirect effect models were tested with multivariate linear regressions and the PROCESS macro. Advanced age, unmarried status, lower levels of acculturation, and more chronic physical conditions were significant predictors of psychological distress. When subjective health perception was added to the model, an additional 5% of the variance was accounted for, resulting in 25% of the total variance explained by the estimated model. Negative health perception was a significant predictor of increased level of psychological distress. Supporting the mediation hypothesis, all direct paths among physical health constraints, subjective health perception, and psychological distress were significant. The indirect effect of physical health constraints on psychological distress through subjective health perception status was significant, as evidenced by the 95% bootstrap confidence interval for the indirect effect not containing zero (.07, .28). The findings not only help better understand the psychological mechanisms that underlie physical health constraints and psychological distress but also suggest avenues for interventions.

Healthcare Providers' Advice About Gestational Weight Gain, Diet, and Exercise: a Cross-Sectional Study with Brazilian Immigrant Women in the USA.

This study sought to quantify healthcare providers' advice about gestational weight gain (GWG), diet, and exercise among first-time pregnant Brazilian women living in the USA. This is a cross-sectional study of first-time pregnant Brazilian women living in selected cities in Massachusetts. The study sample included 86 women, nearly all (97%; n = 83) immigrants. Participants' mean age was 28.3years and mean gestation was 27.5weeks. Approximately 25.6% (n= 22) reported being overweight, and 1.2% (n= 1) being underweight. Only about 62% (n = 53) reported receiving advice from their healthcare provider on recommended GWG. In addition, about 83% (n = 71) and 81% (n = 70) reported receiving healthcare providers' advice on exercise and diet, respectively. Women who self-reported being overweight pre-pregnancy (OR 0.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03-0.73; p = 0.02) and women who were classified low acculturation levels (OR 0.12; 95% CI 0.02-0.08; p = 0.03) were less likely to report receiving healthcare providers' advice on GWG compared to women who self-reported being normal weight pre-pregnancy and those classified having high acculturation level, respectively. Furthermore, women who self-reported being overweight pre-pregnancy were less likely to report receiving diet-related advice (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.10-1.02; p = 0.05) than women who self-reported being normal weight pre-pregnancy. Findings indicate the need for increased communication and counseling between healthcare providers and Brazilian immigrant women about GWG, in particular for women with low acculturation levels and language barriers suggesting the need for linguistic and culturally relevant interventions designed to improve Brazilian immigrant women's access to evidence-based information about GWG, diet, and exercise.

Land Use Mix and Leukocyte Telomere Length in Mexican Americans

It has been well-known that built environment features influence the risk of chronic diseases. However, the existing data of its relationship with telomere length, a biomarker of biological aging, is still limited, with no study available for Mexican Americans. This study investigates the relationship between several factors of the built environment with leukocyte telomere length among 5,508 Mexican American adults enrolled in Mano-A-Mano, the Mexican American Cohort Study (MACS). Based on the quartile levels of telomere length, the study population was categorized into four groups, from the lowest (1st quartile) to the highest telomere length group (4th quartile). For individual built environment factors, their levels did not differ significantly across four groups. However, in the multinominal logistic regression analysis, increased Rundle’s land use mixture (LUM) and Frank’s LUM were found statistically significantly associated with increased odds of having high levels of telomere length (Rundle’s LUM: 2nd quartile: Odds ratio (OR)=1.26, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.07, 1.48; 3rd quartile: OR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.46; 4th quartile: OR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.41; Frank’s LUM: 2nd quartile: OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.63; 3rd quartile: OR=1.55, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.91; 4th quartile: OR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.72, respectively). The associations for Rundle’s LUM remained significant after further adjusting other non-redundant built environment factors. Finally, in stratified analysis, we found the association between Rundle’s LUM and telomere length was more evident among younger individuals (<38 years old), women, and those with obesity, born in Mexico, having low levels of physical activity, and having low levels of acculturation than their relative counterparts. In summary, our results indicate that land use mixture may impact telomere length in leukocytes in Mexican Americans. Funding Statement: The Mano a Mano Cohort Study receives funds collected pursuant to the Comprehensive Tobacco Settlement of 1998 and appropriated by the 76th legislature to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, as well as funds from the Caroline W. Law Fund for Cancer Prevention and the Duncan Family Institute for Risk Assessment and Cancer Prevention. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of MD Anderson Cancer Center. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Written consent has been obtained from all participants.

Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of Integrative Nutritional Counseling Versus Standard Diabetes Self-Management Education for Chinese Americans with Type 2 Diabetes.

Purpose: Chinese Americans (CAs) with diabetes and limited English proficiency often struggle to adhere to standard diabetes diets focused on food measurement/restriction. Chinese medicine principles commonly inform food choices among CAs but are rarely acknowledged in nutritional interventions. We developed and tested feasibility of a theoretically informed integrative nutritional counseling (INC) program that combines Chinese medicine principles with biomedical nutrition standards.Methods: We randomized diabetes self-management education (DSME) classes to include either: (1) usual nutrition curriculum based on American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendations delivered by a diabetes educator (control) or (2) INC curriculum based on a combination of ADA recommendations and Chinese medicine principles delivered by a diabetes educator and a licensed acupuncturist (intervention). All DSME enrollees were invited to participate in research entailing data collection at three time points: baseline, after the DSME nutrition class, and at 6-month follow-up. Using validated measures, we collected dietary self-efficacy, diabetes distress, diet satisfaction, and dietary adherence. We also measured weight and glycemic control.Results: Study participants were 18 Cantonese-speaking patients with diabetes who were predominantly female and older, with low levels of income and acculturation. Intervention and control groups were similar at baseline. INC performed similarly to usual DSME with 100% of participants reporting the INC booklet helped their learning. Dietary adherence significantly improved in participants who received the INC curriculum.Conclusion: INC is feasible to implement as part of DSME classes and shows promise as a complementary culturally sensitive addition to usual diabetes nutrition education for CA patients.

Abstract A055: A case study of co-occurring burdens experienced by a Hispanic mother diagnosed with cancer and its implications for a cancer education program in the U.S.-Mexico border region

Abstract Purpose: This study explored a cancer survivor’s description of the burdens she experienced in addition to her cancer diagnosis while participating in a cancer education program. While this case study’s primary aim was to identify these co-occurring burdens, the secondary aim was to develop responsive program protocols that would not interfere with program dosage and fidelity. Introduction: Several studies have assessed the significant burden that cancer poses to diagnosed individuals. While researchers have worked to develop programs that improve the survivorship experience, such efforts have largely been validated with non-Hispanic white patients who are more socially and economically privileged than cancer survivors from underserved populations. While there is some research on the cancer survivorship experiences of racial/ethnic minority groups, few programs are exclusively designed to address the burden that cancer poses in these already burdened groups. As researchers work to engage racial/ethnic minority participants in cancer education programs designed to improve cancer survivorship, they may encounter unexpected challenges when working with these new consumer groups. This case study explored the multiple burdens reported by a cancer diagnosed Hispanic woman participating in a cancer education program. Methods: The participant was a Spanish-speaking Hispanic mother diagnosed with cancer and residing on the U.S.-Mexico border. Baseline participant demographics, cancer fatalism, depression, anxiety, and acculturation levels were collected. In each of the five bi-weekly program sessions, the participant was asked to report any cancer-related emotional triggers she experienced since her last session. Each education session was audio recorded, transcribed, and translated to English. Two coders analyzed the translated transcriptions using inductive content analysis. The trustworthiness of the analysis was protected by coding to consensus, peer debriefing, and maintaining audit trails. Results: The participant exhibited clinical levels of both depression and anxiety, high cancer fatalism, and a low level of acculturation. Co-occurring burdens described by the participant included Low SES, Negative Cancer Effects, Domestic Violence, Family Concerns, and Issues with Communication and Isolation. This participant reported a variety of emotions and limited coping strategies in response to these burdens. Various protocols were developed to support participants with multiple burdens and to protect the fidelity of the original cancer education program. Conclusion: These findings revealed the excessive burden and challenges affecting the cancer survivorship of a Hispanic mother diagnosed with cancer. As other low-SES Hispanics cancer survivors may be facing similar challenges, researchers should be prepared to develop study protocols, particularly when implementing evidence-based programs validated with privileged populations. Citation Format: Adriena Hernandez, Isela Garcia, Clara Reyes, Rebecca Palacios. A case study of co-occurring burdens experienced by a Hispanic mother diagnosed with cancer and its implications for a cancer education program in the U.S.-Mexico border region [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A055.

The Effects of Family Financial Stress and Primary Caregivers' Levels of Acculturation on Children's Emotional and Behavioral Problems among Humanitarian Refugees in Australia.

The present study evaluated the application of the basic and extended (incorporated primary caregivers’ levels of acculturation) Family Stress Model (FSM) to understand the effect of family financial stress and primary caregivers’ levels of acculturation on children’s emotional and behavioral problems among refugees in Australia. A total of 658 refugee children aged 5–17 and their primary caregivers (n = 410) from the third wave of a nationwide longitudinal project were included in this study. We used multilevel structural equation models with bootstrapping to test the indirect effects of family financial stress and caregivers’ levels of acculturation (including English proficiency, self-sufficiency, social interaction, and self-identity) on children’s emotional and behavioral problems through caregivers’ psychological distress and parenting styles. The results showed that the extended FSM improved the model fit statistics, explaining 45.8% variation in children’s emotional and behavioral problems. Family financial stress, caregivers’ English proficiency, and self-identity had indirect effects on children’s emotional and behavioral problems through caregivers’ psychological distress and hostile parenting. The findings showed that interventions aimed at reducing caregivers’ psychological distress and negative parenting could be effective in alleviating the adverse effects of family financial stress and caregivers’ low levels of acculturation on refugee children’s mental health.

The Role of Social Networks on Depressive Symptoms: A Comparison of Older Koreans in Three Geographic Areas.

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlates of depressive symptoms among older Korean adults in three geographic locations with varying densities of the Korean population: mainland Korea (mostly Koreans), New York metropolitan area (high Korean density), and west central Florida (low Korean density). The study focused on the role of family and friend networks. Data were drawn from three sources: (1) a multistage national sample of Koreans in South Korea (n = 403); (2) a survey conducted in the western/central Florida area that used a variety of culturally sensitive sampling strategies (n = 672); and (3) a survey in the New York metropolitan area (n = 420) that replicated the Florida study. For those living in Korea, living alone and lower perceived financial status were independently associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. For the New York and Florida samples, fair or poor self-rating of health, lower levels of acculturation, and weaker ties with family were related to higher levels of depressive symptoms. Similar to the older Korean sample, lower perceived financial status was linked with greater depressive symptoms in the New York sample. The overall results suggest that it is important to consider the interplay of the social network, personal, and cultural resources when working with older adults in diverse contexts. Intervention efforts should address mental health issues tailored to cultural and social settings.

Psychological Distress and Social Support Availability in Different Family Caregivers of Latinas With Breast Cancer.

Introduction: Latinas with breast cancer draw on a diverse range of family members for informal care. Latin cultures typically prescribe high levels of support and care for an ill family member that leave caregivers vulnerable to compromised well-being. Method: In this cross-sectional survey study, 258 family caregivers of Latinas with breast cancer completed reports of psychological distress, availability of social support, and acculturation. Results: Mothers who provide care to a daughter with breast cancer experience higher levels of psychological distress and report lower availability of informational support than most other types of family caregivers. Mothers' lower levels of acculturation may at least partially explain these reductions in well-being. Discussion: This study highlights the diverse range of family and fictive kin who participate in family caregiving for Latina breast cancer survivors. Spousal caregivers may not represent a unique population, whereas mothers as caregivers are indeed distinct for their higher distress levels.

Healthy Aging in Older Chinese Americans: Associations With Immigrant Experiences.

Objectives: We examined the associations of aspects of the immigrant experience-acculturation, neighborhood belonging, and perceived discrimination-with healthy aging in older Chinese Americans and explored whether the associations vary by age and gender. Method: The sample included 3,056 older Chinese Americans. Healthy aging was defined as no disability, no cognitive impairment, and high physical functioning, coded dichotomously (1 = meets all criteria, 0 = otherwise). Acculturation, neighborhood belonging, and perceived discrimination were measured using standardized scales. Results: About 31% of the sample experienced healthy aging. Acculturation was positively associated with healthy aging, with stronger associations in older age and women. A greater sense of neighborhood belonging was associated with higher odds of healthy aging; experiences of discrimination were associated with lower odds. Discussion: Interventions to promote healthy aging in Chinese Americans are needed. Programs that support immigrants with low acculturation levels, strengthen immigrants' connectedness to their neighbors, and promote inclusiveness may improve population health.

Integrating Worksite Smoking Cessation Services Into the Construction Sector: Opportunities and Challenges.

Background. Smoking prevalence among Hispanic/Latino construction workers in the United States is very high (31%). Aims. To investigate tobacco use profiles in these minority workers and explore their management's views about implementing sustainable worksite smoking cessation services. Methods. Analysis of baseline data from a smoking cessation trial among Hispanic/Latino construction workers (n = 134; adult men ≥18 years), and semistructured, 45-minute interviews with 24 key personnel at six construction companies in south Florida were conducted. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. Results. Overall, 43.3% of workers were Cuban, and 81.3% had low acculturation level. Nicotine dependence levels were "high" in 61.8% of workers. Half of the workers had a successful quit attempt but only 9.9% received advice from a physician to quit smoking, 16.7% used medication to quit, and 79.2% did not receive assistance. Participants in the interviews stated that nothing was provided to help smokers quit smoking and considered distributing self-help materials with free medications as the most appropriate service. Challenges to integrating the service were time restriction and cost. Recommendations for implementing the service were local/state government mandate. Discussion. Tailoring tobacco treatment to Hispanic/Latino construction workers' job circumstances and culture is essential to support their cessation efforts. Integrating worksite tobacco treatment services into other available health promotion programs (e.g., safety) and enforcing smoke-free legislation in the construction sector can facilitate its adoption. Conclusion. Involving key stakeholders and mandating the service by the State and local government are necessary to integrate sustainable worksite smoking cessation services in the construction sector.

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

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

Health Service Use Among Chinese American Older Adults: Is There a Somatization Effect?

Somatization of depressive symptoms among Chinese American older adults remains understudied. This study aimed to identify whether the relationship between depressive symptoms and use of health services (ie, doctor visits, hospital, and emergency department) could be due to pain and whether acculturation played a role in the relations among depressive symptoms, pain, and health service use. Secondary data came from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago that surveyed 3159 Chinese community-dwelling older adults in the greater Chicago area. The average age was 76.3 years (standard deviation = 8.4); 57.95% were female). Negative binominal models were used to identify the effects of depression and pain on each type of health service use, controlling for sociodemographics and health-related factors (eg, chronic illness). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9; pain was assessed by self-reported pain severity. Participants were classified into low, moderate, and high acculturation groups based on acculturation scores. Depressive symptoms and pain were positively related to health service use on the bivariate level. For groups with both low and high acculturation levels, depression and pain each independently predicted more health service use, whereas for the group with a moderate acculturation level, the effect of somatization was substantialized. Depression largely influenced health service use independently and partially through pain for older Chinese Americans. The somatization tended to be only salient for the moderate acculturation group, calling for more research attention to the complicated effect of acculturation. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S584-S589, 2019.

Filial expectation among Chinese immigrants in the United States of America: a cohort comparison.

Relying on two unique data-sets on Chinese older immigrants (N = 3,157) and younger immigrants with ageing parents (N = 469) in Chicago, this study compared the level of filial expectation among the two groups and examined the predictors and mental health implications of having high filial expectation among each group. Results of t-tests, logistic regression and negative binominal analyses showed that, regardless of socio-demographic variables, acculturation, physical health and family relations, Chinese adult children had higher filial expectations on themselves than older immigrants' filial expectation on the younger generation. Chinese older immigrants who had less education, lower levels of acculturation, poorer health and closer relationships with children reported higher filial expectation. In the cohort of younger immigrants, high filial expectation was associated with lower income, better health and closer relations with their parents. In addition, having high filial expectation was associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety among the older immigrants, but not among the younger cohort. The results indicated that, whereas Chinese older immigrants seemed to adapt their filial expectation in the new society, the younger cohort still strongly adhere to this traditional family norm. Maintaining strong filial expectation might be a protective factor for older immigrants' mental health. Practice and policy implications of these findings are discussed in the paper.

Exercise trends among previously non-exercising breast cancer survivors: Analysis of an ethnically diverse sample.

e23048 Background: Exercise is associated with improved symptoms and breast cancer (BC) survival. Little is known about personal and social factors that determine exercise participation in diverse BCS. The study seeks to characterize exercise trends and distinguish factors associated with initiating exercise among pre-diagnosis employed, non-exercising, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse BCS. Methods: BCS were recruited from academic and community medical centers. Women with stage I-III BC were surveyed during and 4 months post-completion of active treatment (surgery +/- chemo +/- radiation). The primary outcome was exercise initiation 4 months post treatment. Variables were self-reported except for clinical cancer variables, which were abstracted from the medical record. Results: Our sample (n = 494) included 22% black, 20% Chinese, 8% Korean, 27% Latina, and 21% non-Latina white women (3% other). 56% were born outside of the US; 30% reported an income &lt; 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). 72% of BCS exercised the year before diagnosis; 28% did not. Significant correlates (p &lt; 0.05) of NOT exercising pre-diagnosis included lack of post-secondary education, Chinese or Korean ethnicity, lack of alcohol consumption, and lower acculturation level, resilience, and income. Among 138 non-exercisers, 63% reported exercising at follow-up. Significant correlates of exercise initiation are listed in table. In a multivariable model that included age, acculturation, job loss, insurance status, chemo-, and radiotherapy (RT), receipt of RT was significantly associated with exercise initiation (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.4-7.1). Conclusions: A BC diagnosis may be an impetus to initiate exercise among previously sedentary, employed women. Patients who undergo radiotherapy appear to be more likely to start exercising. Additional research is needed to understand why some patients initiate exercise while others do not. [Table: see text]

The role of acculturation and training in personal protective equipment (PPE) use among Hispanic farmworkers: A follow-up from the ¡Protejase! study.

Hispanic farmworkers are at disproportionate risk of pesticide exposure. Moreover, new immigrant, Spanish-speaking farmworkers are least likely to receive safety training and protection from pesticides in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE). Provision is known to increase PPE use among farmworkers, but it is unclear whether provision helps new immigrant Hispanic farmworkers. Thus, this study examined the extent to which provision increases Hispanic farmworkers’ use of PPE. Additionally, we examined associations with English language acculturation since language barriers might influence training and use of PPE in a largely new immigrant, Spanish-speaking workforce. Farmworkers were provided three types of PPE (chemical-resistant gloves, safety glasses, and long-sleeved shirts) as part of the ¡Protejase! study. We assessed differences in the use of PPE that was provided by the ¡Protejase! study compared to PPE that farmworkers were not provided. We also measured workers’ English language acculturation, training, and other work demographic variables. PPE use was measured at baseline and after 30 days, and analyzed using OLS regression. Use of study-provided PPE was significantly higher, but only among participants with low levels of English language acculturation (p < .05). Thus, providing PPE increases its use among farmworkers with low levels of English language acculturation.

Do social factors and country of origin contribute towards explaining a \u201cLatina paradox\u201d among immigrant women giving birth in Germany?

BackgroundThe “Latina paradox” describes the unexpected association between immigrant status, which is often correlated to low socioeconomic status, and low prevalence of unfavourable birth outcomes. Social (e.g. culture, religion) and/or non-social factors related to country of origin are potentially responsible for this paradox.MethodsQuestionnaire survey of 6413 women delivering in three large obstetric hospitals in Berlin (Germany) covering socioeconomic and migration status, country of origin (Turkey, Lebanon), and acculturation. Data was linked with routine obstetric data. Logistic regressions were performed to assess the effect of acculturation, affinity to religion and country of origin on preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age (SGA).ResultsImmigrant women with a low level of acculturation (reference) were less likely to have a preterm birth than those who were highly acculturated (aOR: 1.62, 95%CI: 1.01–2.59), as were women from Turkey compared to non-immigrants (aOR: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.33–0.73). For SGA, we found no epidemiologic paradox; conversely, women from Lebanon had a higher chance (aOR: 1.72, 95%CI: 1.27–2.34) of SGA. Affinity to religion had no influence on birth outcomes.ConclusionsThere is evidence that low acculturation (but not affinity to religion) contributes towards explaining the epidemiologic paradox with regard to preterm birth, emphasising the influence of socioeconomic characteristics on birth outcomes. The influence of Turkish origin on preterm birth and Lebanese origin on SGA suggests that non-social factors relating to the country of origin are also at play in explaining birth outcome differences, and that the direction of the effect varies depending on the country of origin and the outcome.

Assessing the Prevalence and Association of Acculturation and Health Literacy Levels in Spanish-Speaking Hispanic Patients at Midwestern Community Health Centers in the USA

Predictions from the US census indicate that by 2060 one of every three individuals living in the nation will be of Hispanic origin. Hispanics experience health disparities manifested with higher rates of chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes in contrast with other US population groups. Health literacy and acculturation have been well identified as key contributors for this issue. However, very few studies have examined the association between health literacy and levels of acculturation in Spanish-speaking Hispanics living in rural and urban areas of the USA. To assess the prevalence and association of acculturation with low levels of health literacy and demographic variables in Spanish-speaking Hispanics in the US Midwest. We measured levels of acculturation in Spanish-speaking adult Hispanics (N = 401) accessing community health centers in rural and urban Nebraska. We used a survey that included the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics/Linguistic Proficiency Subscale (BAS/LP) and the Short Assessment of Health Literacy in Spanish (SAHL-S). We observed similar acculturation levels with rural and urban status participants. A total of 85% of the total participants had low levels of acculturation to US culture. Of the 15% of the participants who showed themselves to be bicultural, 81% reported adequate levels of health literacy in Spanish. Our findings are consistent with previous studies that report the associations between acculturation and health literacy levels are significant. This study underscores the importance of considering the cultural aspects of the Hispanic community for the development of health literacy interventions and education programs.

Bidimensional Acculturation and Psychological Distress in Pakistani Immigrant Women in Norway: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Immigrants from South Asia have higher risks of mental health problems . Low levels of acculturation and self-efficacy may be risk factors for depression and psychological distress in immigrants. 355 Pakistani immigrant women in Oslo, filled out a questionnaire concerning demographic variables, self-efficacy, and psychological distress. A bidimensional acculturation variable was constructed. A stepwise logistic regression model was used to investigate the importance of the level of acculturation and self-efficacy on psychological distress. Low levels of acculturation were reported. Integrated participants reported significantly less psychological distress on the depression score and total score than separated and marginalized participants. The model showed that assimilated or marginalized participants had a fourth and three times higher risk of high levels of distress compared with integrated participants. The possibility to be bicultural seems important in order to ensure mental health and national policies should promote an integrative and multiculturalism approach.

Association between acculturation and body weight status among migrant children in Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo assess the association between acculturation and body weight status among internal migrant children in China.Design, setting and participantsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 1154 pairs of migrant children aged...