To further examine the relationship between neighborhood hazards and physical activity, we suggest that future studies include assessments of sedentary behavior, parental fear of violence, parental regulation of children's leisure activities, and cost and quality of available play areas and organized sports.
ABSTRACT. Latino families who express a higher degree of familism are characterized by positive interpersonal familial relationships, high family unity, social support, interdependence in the completion of daily activities, and close proximity with extended family members. Retention of cultural values, such as familism, may be linked to positive health outcomes; however, little is known about how families retain culture of origin values in the face of acculturation pressures. The current study explores acculturation influences as indexed by language preference and household education on maternal and child familism. Mothers and children of Mexican descent (fourth grade students) (n = 219) completed measures of demographics, household education, language preference, and familism. Three hypotheses were examined. First, we predicted that lower household education would be correlated with higher familism scores. However, contrary to our prediction, a higher familism score was significantly associated with a higher level of household education (p < .05). Second, we predicted that higher child familism would be associated with the preference for speaking Spanish. Children who preferred to use both English and Spanish (p < .01) or English alone (p < .05) had higher familism scores than those who preferred Spanish. Third, we predicted that lower child familism scores would be associated with greater differences in mother and child language preferences. There were no significant differences in child familism based on differences between parent and child language. Protective influences of cultural maintenance deserve further attention in longitudinal studies and in relation to the physical and mental health of youth. J Dev Behav Pediatr 025: 34 -40, 2004. Index terms: Familism, language preference, Mexican-American.It is helpful for clinicians who work with families from different cultures to be aware of normative beliefs, values, attitudes, and practices that are commonly identified in a particular group. But it is also crucially important to recognize that there is often as much variation in beliefs and practices within groups as among different groups. Knowledge of such variability guards against stereotyping. This article describes differences in expression of a common traditional cultural value ( familism) within a group of Mexican-American families based on the level of acculturation and other sociodemographic factors. Results show that the relationships among these variables are complex and require further study. -Editor Familism is a construct that reflects the collectivistic nature of Latino culture, in other words, the orientation toward the welfare of the group. 1 Latino families who express a higher degree of familism are characterized by positive interpersonal familial relationships, high family unity, social support, interdependence in the completion of daily activities, and close proximity with extended family members. [2][3][4][5][6]
Previous studies showed that Hispanics have higher levels of overweight and obesity than do US whites. The Hispanic Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (1982-1984) provides the basis for examining the physical characteristics of this population on a wider scale than previously possible. Data for body mass index (BMI; weight/height2) and triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses were examined for the 7052 Mexican Americans, 1307 Cubans, and 2690 Puerto Ricans for whom each of these measurements were available. Prevalence of obesity and overweight was defined as BMI in excess of the 95th and 85th percentiles, respectively, of US reference standards. In male adults prevalence values were, respectively, 10.6% and 33.5% for Mexican Americans, 9.6% and 31.3% for Puerto Ricans, and 9.0% and 34.0% for Cubans. In female adults prevalence values were, respectively, 15.1% and 42.3% for Mexican Americans, 7.8% and 40.7% for Puerto Ricans, and 15.0% and 38.2% for Cubans. Skinfold-thickness data for these populations indicate a centralized distribution of adipose tissue, especially in males, and increased subscapular skinfold thicknesses in older women.
The growth status of Mexican American children and youths is reviewed in a historical perspective that begins in the 1920s. The early studies were more concerned with growth status as an indicator of undernutrition and associated growth stunting, while the more recent studies have overnutrition and excess fatness as a primary focus. Evidence from recent studies suggests a relatively large number of short but heavy Mexican American children and youths. The growth status of Mexican American children and youths is then discussed in the context of socioeconomic variation; the relationship between weight for stature or the body mass index and body proportions; skinfolds, body composition, and fat patterning; secular trends; and recent national health surveys including the National Health and Nutrition Examination surveys and the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.