Acculturation and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Midlife Immigrant Women From the Former Soviet Union

Abstract

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.

The impact of migration on body weight: a review

“…We show the most prevalent religion among immigrants and first language based on the region of birth to facilitate the grouping of immigrants and the interpretation of potential acculturation barriers. Four of the studies 12,14,15,16 used only female samples. All but one of the studies 17 sampled only adults.…”

“…BMI was self-reported in the majority of the studies. Ten of the studies measured weight and height 14,16,18,20,21,22,23,24 , while one study measured only height and weight was self-reported 25 . In another study, weight and height were measured but change in BMI (outcome variable) was calculated based on self-reported past weight and height 26 .…”

“…Only two studies included the immigrants' country of origin 16,22 . Eleven mentions were made of the European subgroup in 10 different studies, of which eight reported a positive association between the two variables of interest (72.7%).…”

Exploring obesogenic environments: the design and development of the migrant obesogenic perception of the environment questionnaire (MOPE-Q) using a sample of Iranian migrants in Australia

“…Further, while there is limited research investigating gender differences in the association between BMI and acculturation, Lee and colleagues found no significant relationship between acculturation and obesity in their female sub-sample [19]. Other studies have found negative or mixed associations, including less obesity in migrant women [20-22]. This observation reinforces the argument that, in all likelihood, a complex interaction between culture, ethnicity, gender and place of origin impacts on a range of health-related factors, including obesity.…”

Exploring obesogenic environments: The design and development of the migrant obesogenic perception of the environment questionnaire (MOPE-Q) using a sample of Iranian migrants in Australia

“…Further, while there is limited research investigating gender differences in the association between BMI and acculturation, Lee and colleagues found no significant relationship between acculturation and obesity in their female sub-sample [19]. Other studies have found negative or mixed associations, including less obesity in migrant women [20][21][22]. This observation reinforces the argument that, in all likelihood, a complex interaction between culture, ethnicity, gender and place of origin impacts on a range of health-related factors, including obesity.…”