Several acculturation theories note the importance of surrounding context, but few studies describe neighborhood influences on immigrant adaptation. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among neighborhood immigrant concentration, acculturation, and alienation for 151 women aged 44-80 from the former Soviet Union who lived in the US fewer than 13 years. Participants resided in 65 census tracts in the Chicago area with varying concentrations of Russian-speaking and diverse immigrants. Results from self-report questionnaires suggest that the effect of acculturation on alienation varies depending on neighborhood characteristics. The study also demonstrates the complexity of individual and contextual influences on immigrant adoption. Understanding these relationships is important for developing community-based and neighborhood-level interventions to enhance the mental health of immigrants.

Level of acculturation has been linked to depressed mood in studies across culturally diverse immigrant groups. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of acculturation, social alienation, personal and family stress, and demographic characteristics on depressed mood in midlife immigrant women from the former Soviet Union. Structural equation modeling showed that higher acculturation scores, measured by English language and American behavior, were indirectly related to lower scores for depressed mood. Higher acculturation levels promoted mental health indirectly by reducing social alienation and, subsequently, lowering family and personal stress, both of which had direct relationships to symptoms of depression. These findings support the ecological framework that guided our research and point to the importance of focusing on contextual factors in developing interventions for new immigrants.

This study examines relationships among acculturation, depression, and cardiovascular risk factors in midlife women from the former Soviet Union and identifies factors predicting Framingham Risk Scores. Data were collected at baseline and 1 year later from 218 participants in a longitudinal study of postimmigration health. The leading risk factors were obesity, dyslipidemia, and depression. Older women had lower American Behavioral Acculturation subscale scores, higher Russian Behavioral Acculturation subscale scores, and higher depression scores. Length of residence was significantly correlated with American behavioral acculturation but not Russian behavioral acculturation. Baseline body mass index, both acculturation scores, and depression scores predicted Framingham Risk Scores after 1 year, but serum glucose did not. The results suggest that contrary to findings in other immigrant groups, women from the former Soviet Union may decrease their risk for coronary heart disease as they assume a more American lifestyle. Nursing interventions to address the high cardiovascular disease risk in this population are suggested.

Most research on immigrant acculturation has been conducted with cross-sectional samples, using statistical designs that may not capture different trajectories for the components that contribute to this complex concept. The purpose of this study was to examine change over time in acculturation for 226 women from the former Soviet Union who had lived in the US fewer than eight years when recruited. Using self-report data from four annual waves, growth trajectories were examined in four components of acculturation (American behavior, Russian behavior, English language proficiency, and cultural generativity). Results indicate that these components changed at varying rates. Acculturation is a process with multiple distinct components which should be measured separately to obtain a full profile of change over time.

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The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis is to examine modifiable CVD risk factors in relation to menopausal status, age, and length of residence in the U.S. of midlife women from the former Soviet Union. The analysis includes baseline data for 193 women, aged 40-70, who lived in the U.S. fewer than 8 years and were enrolled in an ongoing four-year study of post-immigration health and behavior change. Data collection was conducted in women's homes or other community locations. The presence of seven health risk indicators (obesity, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and excessive alcohol use) was assessed. In addition, Framingham 10 year risk scores for heart disease, and the presence of metabolic syndrome, were calculated using recent National Cholesterol Education Program (ATP-III) guidelines. Consistent with the age distribution, 60% of the women were postmenopausal. Four risk indicators (obesity, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and sedentary lifestyle) were identified as significant areas of concern. Although the Framingham risk scores did not seem excessively high, almost 25% of the women had metabolic syndrome. Older and postmenopausal women had significantly higher scores on all risk estimates. When age and menopausal status were held constant, menopausal status remained an independent contributor for the number of CVD risk indicators. Issues specific to this group of women because of their pre- and post-migration lifestyles are discussed in relation to their CVD risk status.

Post-immigration adaptation is characterized by chronic and acute acculturative stressors. Salivary cortisol is a commonly used hormonal marker of stress, but few studies have investigated its use as an indicator of acculturative stress and adjustment in immigrants. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among predictors of adjustment (environmental and language mastery), self-reported stress outcomes (depressive symptoms, perceived stress, alienation), and salivary cortisol response in immigrants from the former Soviet Union. The sample included 137 married men and women aged 42-80 who lived in the U.S. for 1-13 years. Results indicated that while men and women had similar values for cortisol response, relationships among adjustment measures, stress outcomes, and cortisol differed by gender. Among men, environmental mastery significantly reduced depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and cortisol response. Among women, environmental mastery also reduced depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and alienation, but language mastery increased cortisol response and decreased alienation.

Gender differences in predictors of depression for married couples from the former Soviet Union were examined in a cross-sectional, descriptive analysis. Data were collected during a longitudinal study of post-migration health and adaptation. The sample included 308 men and women (154 couples), ages 40-79, who had lived in the US for an average of 6 years. Generativity, marital satisfaction and communication, social support, immigration challenges, and alienation were independent predictors of depressed mood. A gender interaction was found for generativity, indicating that diminished opportunities to guide the next generation and be productive members of society may have been more depressing for women. Interventions should attend to gender differences in developmental needs, reduce immigration-related challenges, and strengthen family and social support.