Role Of Acculturation Research Articles

Abstract 002: Assessing Profiles Of Cardiometabolic Risk Among South Asians Living In The United States Using A Syndemic Framework And Acculturation

Background: South Asians (SA) are the second largest US immigrant group and have excess cardiometabolic (CM) disease. While acculturation is associated with increased CM risk among immigrants and refugees, the role of acculturation on SA CM risk is relatively unknown. CM disease presents as a syndemic or synergistic epidemic involving multiple disease clusters as well as the biological, social, and psychological interactions from the acculturative process to worsen morbidity within subgroups. Methods: We used latent class analysis to identify SA CM risk based on acculturation subgroups using data from adults aged 40-84 in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America study (N=771). The distal outcome of CM risk was constructed using hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and body mass index. Proxies of acculturation included years lived in the US, English proficiency, cuisine eaten at home, cultural traditions, ethnicity of friends, social and neighborhood support, and experienced discrimination; as well as mental health indicators, which included depression, trait anxiety, anger, and positive and negative spiritual coping. Covariates included demographic characteristics, family income, education, study site, exercise, smoking, alcohol use, religiosity and spirituality. Results: Four CM risk profiles and acculturation subgroups were identified: 1) lowest risk [73.8%] were the most integrated with both SA and US culture; 2) intermediate-low risk [13.4%] had high mental health distress and discrimination and separated from SA and US culture; 3) intermediate-high risk [8.9%] were more assimilated with US culture; and 4) highest risk [3.9%] were more assimilated with US culture [Figure]. Conclusion: Our approach identified distinct nuanced profiles of syndemic CM risk to understand how acculturation and sociocultural factors cluster with health in US South Asians. Our syndemic framework will further understanding of CM risk among SA to best design tailored prevention and intervention programs.

Body composition outcomes of Healthy Fit and the role of acculturation among low-income Hispanics on the US-Mexico border

BackgroundHispanic immigrants continue to experience higher rates of overweight and obesity compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts. Acculturation may contribute to unhealthy weight gain among immigrant populations by shifting dietary patterns from high fruit and vegetable consumption to unhealthier high fat diets. Healthy Fit, a culturally tailored community health worker (CHW) intervention, aims to reduce obesity related outcomes by providing physical activity and nutrition education and resources in a low-income Hispanic population. This study aims to evaluate outcomes of Healthy Fit participants and examine changes in body composition in relation to level of acculturation at baseline and follow-up.MethodIn this longitudinal observational study, CHWs recruited 514 participants from community events and agencies serving low-income Hispanic populations in El Paso, Texas from 2015 to 2016. Following an in-person health screening, eligible participants received nutrition and physical activity education guided by fotonovelas, comic-like educational books. Telephone follow-ups made at 1, 3, and 6 months by CHWs encouraged follow-through on referrals. 288 participants completed the screening again during the 12-month follow-up.ResultsThe sample was predominantly Hispanic (96%), female (82%), uninsured (79%), had a household income of less than $19,999 (70%), foreign-born (79%), preferred Spanish (86%) and few rated themselves as good or excellent for English proficiency (27%). Overall, Healthy Fit participants significantly improved (i.e., decreased) BFP by 0.71% (t = 2.47, p = 0.01) but not BMI (b = .01, t = − 0.14, p = .89). Contrary to expectations, acculturation was not associated with lower BMI (b = 0.09, p = 0.84) or BFP (b = 0.13, p = 0.85) at baseline. However, acculturation predicted changes in both BMI (b = 0.30, p = 0.03) and BFP (b = 1.33, p = 0 .01) from baseline to follow-up. Specifically, the low acculturation group improved in body composition measures over time and the high acculturation group did not improve in either measure.ConclusionFindings suggest Healthy Fit was most effective among less acculturated individuals. The influence of acculturation on the efficacy of nutrition and exercise interventions suggests that Hispanics should not be treated as a homogenous subgroup.

Acculturation and Subsequent Oral Health Problems Among Foreign-Born Older Chinese Americans: Does Neighborhood Disorder Matter?

To investigate the relationship between acculturation and subsequent oral health problems in older Chinese Americans and to further test the moderating role of neighborhood disorder in such a relationship. The working sample included 2,706 foreign-born community-dwelling older Chinese Americans aged 60 years or older who participated in the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago at baseline between 2011 and 2013 and the 2-year follow-up between 2013 and 2015. Stepwise Poisson regressions with lagged dependent variable were conducted. Behavioral acculturation was protective against subsequent oral health problems, and the protective role was stronger among individuals reporting lower levels of neighborhood disorder. Residence in Chinatown was associated with an increase in the risk of subsequent oral health problems. To reduce oral health symptoms and related burdens, it is important to consider, in practice and policy, the role of acculturation and the neighborhood on subsequent oral health outcomes.

Stereotyping in the novel Moelelwa: The dichotomy between laziness and maternal duties

Some Sepedi authors perceive women as having to be confined to the home to only perform maternal duties, and women are ridiculed for not being able to fulfill the responsibilities of womanhood. This perception extends to community members who criticise women for not living up to ethnic and cultural expectations. Some books which portray women negatively are still prescribed and read in schools and universities, thereby perpetuating these stereotypes among the youth. This article aims at establishing whether or not laziness is a hindrance to maternal duties and to compare it with modern society’s expectations of married women. The ethnographic design and comparative analyses were used in which Moelelwa, as a character, served as a guide for understanding the issue of stereotyping women and laziness in the past and in the modern era. The cultural theory which discusses how cultural values and rituals play an important role in acculturation and enculturation processes has been employed for comparison between Sepedi, seSwati and modern cultural ways of being. The findings show that women in traditional settings are subjected to this labelling, whereas modern career women avoid this criticism by making use of helpers in their homes. The study illustrates that women are not necessarily lazy if they do not perform their domestic roles. The recommendation is that some of the Sepedi classics could be revived by being used in comparative studies as was done with Moelelwa.

Food insecurity among immigrants and refugees of diverse origins living in metropolitan Atlanta: the roles of acculturation and social connectedness.

Little is known about the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among immigrants and refugees. Acculturation and social connectedness may influence food insecurity (lack of access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life) by affecting a person's ability to access and use governmental and charitable food assistance programs, as well as other community-based or informal food-related resources. We explored associations of acculturation and social connectedness with food insecurity among diverse immigrants and refugees living in metropolitan Atlanta, a major destination for these populations in recent years. From 2017 to 2018, we surveyed 162 adults attending health fairs or programs hosted by two community-based organizations serving immigrants and refugees. Food insecurity within the past year was assessed using the American Academy of Pediatrics' two-item questionnaire. Acculturation indicators included heritage culture and American acculturation scores (Vancouver Acculturation Index), English fluency, heritage language fluency, and percentage of lifetime in the USA. Social connectedness was operationalized using measures of religious attendance and social isolation. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression controlling for age, sex, education, household income, employment status, and household size. In the sample, 51.9% identified as Vietnamese, 16.0% Hispanic, 15.4% Burmese, 14.8% Bhutanese or Nepali, and 1.8% other. The average age was 39.10 (standard deviation [SD] =13.83), 34.0% were male, 73.8% had below a Bachelor's degree, and 49.7% were unemployed. Average scores for American acculturation (mean [M] = 3.26, SD = 1.05, range 1-5) were lower than heritage acculturation (M = 4.34, SD = 0.68, range 1-5). Additionally, 43.4% were fluent in English. Average percentage of life in the USA was 40.59% (SD = 33.48). Regarding social connectedness, 55.9% regularly attended religious services. Average social isolation scores were 3.93 (SD = 1.34, range 3-9). Overall, past-year food insecurity was reported by 17.3% (34.6% in Hispanics, 24.0% in Burmese, 13.1% in Vietnamese, and 8.3% in Bhutanese or Nepali). In adjusted models, food insecurity was associated with English fluency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.36, p = .03) and social isolation (aOR = 2.29, p < .001) but not other measures of acculturation or religious attendance. Limited English proficiency may make it more difficult to navigate or use governmental and charitable food assistance programs. Social isolation may hinder individuals from obtaining information about food assistance programs, receiving aid for services navigation, and sharing or borrowing food from family, friends, and neighbors. Interventions should seek to improve access to English language and literacy services, enhance the linguistic and cultural competency of service providers, and build social connectedness among immigrants and refugees.

Acculturation, coping, and PTSD in Hispanic 9/11 rescue and recovery workers.

Objective: Research examining the responders of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks of 9/11 has found that Hispanic responders are at greater risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than non-Hispanic White responders. However, no studies have examined how acculturation may influence the relationship between coping and PTSD in Hispanic 9/11 responders. This novel study is the first to examine differences in coping and PTSD among Hispanic responders by level of acculturation. Methods: The sample is composed of 845 Hispanic 9/11 responders who were seen at the World Trade Center Health Program and participated in a web-based survey. Using logistic and multiple linear regression, we examined how acculturation is related to their coping strategies and risk for PTSD. We also tested for interaction to examine whether level of acculturation moderated the relationship between coping and PTSD symptom severity. Results: Key findings revealed that higher acculturation is associated with the use of substances, venting, and humor to cope, while lower acculturation is associated with the use of active coping and self-distraction in this sample. We also found that less acculturated responders were more likely to experience more severe PTSD. Lastly, our findings revealed that Hispanics who are more acculturated and used substances to cope had more severe PTSD than less acculturated responders. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to consider the role of acculturation in Hispanic responders' coping and PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

A Cross-Sectional Study of Psychological Flexibility as a Mediator for the Relationship Between Acculturative Stress and Cardiovascular Health Behaviors Among Second-Generation Arab Americans.

Second-generation Arab Americans may be at risk for poor cardiovascular health behaviors, but these behaviors are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acculturative stress and psychological flexibility on cardiovascular health behaviors among second-generation Arab Americans. In a cross-sectional study, survey data were collected in 2018 at local mosques, churches, and a university campus. Cardiovascular health behaviors were measured with a questionnaire based on the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7. Acculturative stress and psychological flexibility were assessed using reliable and valid measures. Participants (n = 325) with higher acculturative stress were significantly more likely to report intermediate overall cardiovascular health behaviors (p = .01) and poor to intermediate diet (p = .00). Psychological flexibility partially mediated poor/intermediate smoking (p = .02) and intermediate diet (p = .00) scores. Nurses may consider the role of acculturation when designing culturally sensitive interventions to promote cardiovascular health in second-generation populations.

Acculturation and Subsequent Oral Health Problems Among Older Chinese Americans: The Role of Neighborhood Disorder

To further understand social, cultural, and personal predictors of oral health outcomes, this study addressed the relationship between acculturation and subsequent oral health problems and tested the moderating role of neighborhood disorder in such a relationship among older Chinese Americans. The working sample included 2,706 foreign-born community-dwelling older Chinese Americans aged 60 years or older who participated in the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago at the baseline and the first follow-up. Stepwise Poisson regression using lagged dependent variable was conducted. Behavioral acculturation was protective against subsequent oral health problems. Residence in Chinatown was associated with an increase in the risk of subsequent oral health problems. The relationship between behavioral acculturation and subsequent oral health problems varied by levels of neighborhood disorder. To reduce oral health-related disease burdens, it is important to consider the role of acculturation and the neighborhood on subsequent oral health problems in practice and policy. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Oral Health Interest Group.

Acculturative Influences on Psychological Well-Being and Health Risk Behaviors in Armenian Americans

The acculturative process is often stressful and may lead to various mental health problems. Research on Armenian Americans and their acculturation process is limited. In the present study, the role of acculturation and acculturative stress in predicting depression, anxiety, and alcohol use were examined, in addition to treatment barriers for this population. In the study, the participants completed the Acculturation Rating Scale of Armenian Americans (ARSAA), the Multidimensional Acculturation Stress Inventory (MASI), the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Barriers to Accessing Care 3 (BACE-3).

Neighborhood Cohesion, Acculturation, and Oral Health Problems Among Older Chinese American Immigrants

The influences of neighborhood characteristics remain understudied in relation to oral health, especially within the context of immigration. Acculturation exerts influences on the oral health of immigrants. This study investigated the relationship between neighborhood cohesion and oral health problems among older Chinese American immigrants and examined the moderating role of acculturation in such a relationship. The working sample included 3,157 older Chinese American immigrants aged 60 years or older from the baseline of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago. Stepwise logistic regression models with interaction terms were conducted. Individuals experiencing higher levels of neighborhood cohesion reported a lower likelihood of having oral health problems. The protective effect of neighborhood cohesion against having oral health problems was stronger when individuals resided in ethnic enclaves such as Chinatown. To promote optimal oral health, interventions need to account for individuals’ perceptions and levels of integration into their neighborhoods and communities.

Latinx brain health disparities in cognitive aging: The role of acculturation on brain integrity and cognition among older HIV+ adults

AbstractBackgroundThe US Latinx population is the largest ethnoracial minority group and the fastest growing sector of the aging population (Escarce et al., 2006; US Census Bureau, 2008). Compared to non‐Latinx whites (NLW), the Latinx population bears a disproportionate dementia burden secondary to multiple etiologies (e.g., Alzheimer’s, HIV‐infection; Babulal et al., 2018; Rivera Mindt et al., 2014). Yet, little is understood regarding the sociocultural factors underlying these significant brain health disparities. This aim of cross‐sectional study was to investigate indices of brain integrity, cognition, and acculturation in older HIV+ Latinx and NLW adults.MethodParticipants included 75 older HIV+ adults (Age: M=60 yrs [SD=6.9]; Education: M=13.6 yrs [SD=3.1]; 47% Latinx [primarily Caribbean heritage] &amp; 53% NLW; and 71% male) who completed multimodal neuroimaging (structural MRI and resting state fMRI [rs‐fMRI]), cognitive (seven domains; e.g., leaning, memory, executive function), neuromedical (HIV clinical indices [HIV viral load]), and sociocultural (e.g., acculturation [Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale, AMAS]) evaluations. Global and domain‐specific Average T‐scores were computed on individual tests based on demographically‐adjusted norms.ResultCompared to the NLW group, the Latinx group had greater white matter lesion volumes ([mL], FLAIR; Cohen’s d=1.13, p&lt;.01) and lower hippocampal and posterior cingulate intrinsic activity (rs‐fMRI fALFF values; d’s =.61 ‐ .67), and worse global cognition, learning, memory, and processing speed (ds=.53 ‐ .83, ps&lt; .05), with the largest effects in learning and memory. Lower acculturation to US majority culture (i.e., AMAS US Total Score) was related to reduced intrinsic activity of the right hippocampus and posterior cingulate cortex at the trend level (rs‐fMRI fALFF values; rs=.61 ‐ .63, ps&lt;.10) and worse global cognition, learning, memory, and processing speed (rs = .39 ‐ .51, ps&lt;.05).ConclusionThese findings highlight marked disparities in brain integrity and cognition in older HIV+ Latinx adults. Acculturation may be an important factor for understanding these disparities. Future longitudinal research is needed with HIV‐ controls, larger sample sizes, and the inclusion of other Latinx subpopulations (i.e., Mexican‐American, South American) to extend the current findings and inform culturally‐targeted interventions to promote Latinx brain health. Acknowledgements: The authors thank the Alzheimer’s Association for their support of this study (AARGD‐16‐446038).

The role of acculturation in hotel managers' person-environment (P-E) fit and hiring decisions: An experimental study on immigrant job applications

This study aims to examine the effect of acculturation strategies on managers' person-environment (P-E) fit and hiring decisions. An experimental research design was employed, within whose context, four conditions were created and fictitious job interview record forms of applicants were presented to hotel managers in Turkey. The findings revealed that the separated Syrian applicant was evaluated to have a lower P-E fit. Furthermore, the separated Syrian applicant has a lower employability score than the other applicants and is less preferred for the vacancy in point. Theoretically, the current research expands the current literature by revealing that acculturation preferences impact managers' assessments of P-E fit and their hiring decisions. In practice, this study highlights the importance of cultural awareness and intercultural skills for managers, and the need to implement rigorous assessment tools.

Alcohol use and problems among Latinas at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy: The role of acculturation and interpersonal factors

Path analysis was used to examine the role of acculturation, helping relationships, partner status, age, and education on heavy drinking and alcohol problems among 119 Latina adults at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP). Greater acculturation was positively related to more helping relationships and heavy drinking, and there was an indirect positive relationship between acculturation and alcohol problems. There was also a positive relationship between helping relationships and alcohol problems, and a negative relationship between helping relationships and being partnered. Knowledge of the mechanisms by which acculturation and interpersonal factors influence behavior change can inform potential targets for intervention among Latinas with AEP risk.

The moderating role of acculturation in fostering young Chinese moviegoers’ sustainable e-WOM behaviour in Korea

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the most important factor that determines young Chinese social network service (SNS) users’ sustainable electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) behaviour in Korea. This study focuses on users’ online flow experience to demonstrate sustainable e-WOM behaviour to develop a new customer base for Korean movie distributors and considers the acculturation effects in the flow theory model. We followed the flow theory approach for developing the measures of constructs and examined previous related studies to predict the relationships among the variables. Data were collected from 185 Chinese moviegoers attending Korean universities. Using SmartPLS 2.0 for statistical analysis, we found positive relationships between each pair of variables. Our research findings can offer insights to marketers who are interested in understanding the online behaviour of Chinese students in Korean universities and in establishing strategies to build relationships with them.

Participatory decision-making for cancer care in a high-risk sample of low income Mexican-American breast cancer survivors: The role of acculturation.

Despite declining cancer incidence and mortality rates, Latina patients continue to have lower 5-year survival rates compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Much of this difference has been attributed to lack of healthcare access and poorer quality of care. Research, however, has not considered the unique healthcare experiences of Latina patients. Latina women with prior diagnoses of stage 0-III breast cancer were asked to complete a cross-sectional survey assessing several socio-demographic factors along with their experiences as cancer patients. Using a series of linear regression models in a sample of 68 Mexican-American breast cancer survivors, we examined the extent to which patients' ratings of provider interpersonal quality of care were associated with patients' overall healthcare quality, and how these associations varied by acculturation status. Findings for Latina women indicated that both participatory decision-making (PDM) (β = 0.62, p < .0001) and trust (β = 0.53, p = .02) were significantly associated with patients' ratings of healthcare quality. The interaction between acculturation and PDM further suggested that participating in the decision-making process mattered more for less acculturated than for more acculturated patients (β = -0.51, p ≤ .01). The variation across low and high acculturated Latinas in their decision-making process introduces a unique challenge to health care providers. Further understanding the relationship between provider-patient experiences and ratings of overall healthcare quality is critical for ultimately improving health outcomes.

Role of Sports in Peace-Building: Insights from NCAA Community

Role of Sports in Peace-Building: Insights from NCAA Community

The Role of Enculturation on the Help-Seeking Attitudes Among Filipino Americans in Guam

The present study examined the association between enculturation and mental health help-seeking attitudes and the mediation of self-stigma on this association among Filipino American college students in Guam. A total of 110 self-identified Filipino American students in a public university completed an online survey, including questionnaires to assess enculturation, mental health help-seeking attitudes, and self-stigma. As hypothesized, enculturation was negatively associated with mental health help-seeking attitudes, and this association was fully mediated by self-stigma, above and beyond the contributions of covariates, such as age, socioeconomic status, generational status, gender, English fluency, and mental health problems. In other words, higher levels of enculturation were associated with greater levels of self-stigma, which in turn led to lower levels of positive help-seeking attitudes. Clinical and counseling implications for mental health help-seeking among Filipino Americans in Guam or Pacific islands are discussed.

The role of acculturation in the relationship between self-stigma and psychological distress among Chinese American breast cancer survivors

ABSTRACT Attitudes about breast cancer have improved in the USA, yet stigma is still present in some ethnic and immigrant populations and affecting survivors’ experiences. Chinese American breast cancer survivors report negative beliefs and stigma to be a major stressor; this could result in mental health consequences. We hypothesized that greater self-stigma will be related to greater psychological distress (namely, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress). Furthermore, we expected that the association between self-stigma and psychological distress will be stronger among Chinese American breast cancer survivors who are less acculturated to the USA than those who are highly acculturated. One hundred and thirty-six Chinese American breast cancer survivors completed questionnaires that measured self-stigma, acculturation, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and demographic information. Hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to examine the main effect of stigma on depressive symptoms and perceived stress, and the moderating effect of acculturation. As predicted, self-stigma was associated with greater depressive symptoms and perceived stress among Chinese American breast cancer survivors, especially those who are less acculturated. Self-stigma may play a part in psychological adjustment among Chinese American breast cancer survivors. Interventions that incorporate techniques to reduce self-stigma could be beneficial for Chinese American breast cancer survivors, especially for those who are less acculturated to American society.

Moderating Role of Acculturation and School Type on Association between Parenting Style and Positive Psychological Development among Iranian Adolescents in Malaysia

This study examines the moderating role of acculturation and school type (Iranian vs. International schools) on the association between parenting style and positive psychological development (PPD) among Iranian youth in Malaysia. Some 194 Iranian adolescents were selected from Iranian and International schools using the stratified random sampling method. The Iranian Version of the Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA), Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ), and Positive Youth Development-Short Form (PYD-SF) were employed. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used for data analysis. The results indicated that acculturation moderated the association between father involvement and poor monitoring in the PPD of adolescents. Moreover, positive parenting moderated the correlation between the total scores for acculturation and PPD, although the school type did not. The current study has indicated the importance of the role of acculturation on the association between parenting and PPD of migrated Iranian adolescents in host countries.

Diabetes control in Asian Americans — Disparities and the role of acculturation

Asian Americans (AA) are disproportionately affected by diabetes (DM) and its complications than non-Hispanic whites (whites). We examined white-AA disparities in glycemic, cholesterol and blood pressure control, known as ‘ABCs of DM’, and evaluated if acculturation plays a role in DM control in AA with DM. Using data from NHANES 2011–2016, we found AA patients were significantly less likely to meet glycemic, cholesterol and the collective ‘ABCs’ goals than their white counterparts. Acculturation was positively associated with glycemic goal achievement in AA patients. This study identified disparities and pointed to strategies related to acculturation to improve DM control for AA.