Defining and measuring acculturation: A systematic review of public health studies with Hispanic populations in the United States

Thomson, Maria D.; Hoffman‐Goetz, Laurie

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.05.011

Cited by 319 publications

(332 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…53 Early definitions conceptualized a process of accommodation with eventual (and irreversible) assimilation into the dominant cultural group. 54 A more recent framework delineates 2 separate processes: maintenance of the original culture and development of relationships with the new culture. 54 There has been much research on acculturation, and some studies have found it to be associated with worse health outcomes, behaviors, or perceptions, but others have found positive effects on other health outcomes, health care use, and self-perception of health.…”

Section: Acculturationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status in Research on Child Health

Goodman¹,

Cheng²,

Bogue³

et al. 2015

Pediatrics

165

115

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An extensive literature documents the existence of pervasive and persistent child health, development, and health care disparities by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Disparities experienced during childhood can result in a wide variety of health and health care outcomes, including adult morbidity and mortality, indicating that it is crucial to examine the influence of disparities across the life course. Studies often collect data on the race, ethnicity, and SES of research participants to be used as covariates or explanatory factors. In the past, these variables have often been assumed to exert their effects through individual or genetically determined biologic mechanisms. However, it is now widely accepted that these variables have important social dimensions that influence health. SES, a multidimensional construct, interacts with and confounds analyses of race and ethnicity. Because SES, race, and ethnicity are often difficult to measure accurately, leading to the potential for misattribution of causality, thoughtful consideration should be given to appropriate measurement, analysis, and interpretation of such factors. Scientists who study child and adolescent health and development should understand the multiple measures used to assess race, ethnicity, and SES, including their validity and shortcomings and potential confounding of race and ethnicity with SES. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that research on eliminating health and health care disparities related to race, ethnicity, and SES be a priority. Data on race, ethnicity, and SES should be collected in research on child health to improve their definitions and increase understanding of how these factors and their complex interrelationships affect child health. Furthermore, the AAP believes that researchers should consider both biological and social mechanisms of action of race, ethnicity, and SES as they relate to the aims and hypothesis of the specific area of investigation. It is important to measure these variables, but it is not sufficient to use these variables alone as explanatory for differences in disease, morbidity, and outcomes without attention to the social and biologic influences they have on health throughout the life course. The AAP recommends more research, both in the United States and internationally, on measures of race, ethnicity, and SES and how these complex constructs affect health care and health outcomes throughout the life course.

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Section: Acculturationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status in Research on Child Health

Goodman¹,

Cheng²,

Bogue³

et al. 2015

Pediatrics

165

115

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Nativity status (foreign versus US born) is a frequently used proxy for acculturation 21. Compared with foreign‐born Hispanic persons, US‐born Hispanic persons generally have a higher prevalence of the major CVD risk factors of obesity, smoking, and hypertension,8 and increased acculturation has also been linked with a greater prevalence of subclinical CVD 22.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nativity Status and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among Hispanic Adults

Rodríguez

Hastings

et al. 2017

JAHA

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BackgroundHispanic persons represent a heterogeneous and growing population of any race with origins in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, or other Spanish‐speaking countries. Previous studies have documented variation in cardiovascular risk and outcomes among Hispanic subgroups. Few studies have investigated whether these patterns vary by nativity status among Hispanic subgroups.Methods and ResultsWe used the National Center for Health Statistics mortality file to compare deaths of Hispanic (n=1 258 229) and non‐Hispanic white (n=18 149 774) adults (aged ≥25 years) from 2003 to 2012. We identified all deaths related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and categorized them by subtype (all CVD, ischemic, or cerebrovascular) using the underlying cause of death (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes I00–I78, I20–I25, and I60–I69, respectively). Population estimates were calculated using linear interpolation from the 2000 and 2010 US censuses. CVD accounted for 31% of all deaths among Hispanic adults. Race/ethnicity and nativity status were recorded on death certificates by the funeral director using state guidelines. Nativity status was defined as foreign versus US born; 58% of Hispanic decedents were foreign born. Overall, Hispanic adults had lower age‐adjusted CVD mortality rates than non‐Hispanic white adults (296 versus 385 per 100 000). Foreign‐born Cubans, Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans had higher CVD mortality than their US‐born counterparts (rate ratio: 2.64 [95% confidence interval, 2.46–2.81], 1.17 [95% confidence interval, 1.15–1.21], and 1.91 [95% confidence interval, 1.83–1.99], respectively).ConclusionsMortality rates for total cardiovascular, ischemic, and cerebrovascular disease are higher among foreign‐ than US‐born Hispanic adults. These findings suggest the importance of disaggregating CVD mortality by disease subtype, Hispanic subgroup, and nativity status.

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“…In addition to changes in language preferences or ethnic identities—common constructs captured in acculturation measures used in existing health studies—there are many other dimensions to immigrants’ transition and adaptation to the United States. 63–65 With regard to existing measures of acculturation, particularly those that rely on language use or preference, socioeconomic factors are likely to confound the relationship between acculturation level and health. 64 The addition of SES factors to our model slightly (6%) attenuated the association between the acculturation measure used and diabetes risk, and so our study provides evidence to support this contention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immigrant Generation and Diabetes Risk Among Mexican Americans: The Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging

et al. 2014

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Objectives We examined whether acculturation and immigrant generation, a marker for assimilation, are associated with diabetes risk in an aging Mexican-origin population. Methods We analyzed data on 1789 adults aged 60 to 101 years from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging. We ascertained type 2 diabetes on the basis of diabetic medication use, self-report of physician diagnosis, or a fasting glucose 126 milligrams/deciliter or greater. Logistic regression modeled prevalent diabetes. Results Adjusting for age and gender, we observed significant but divergent associations between immigrant generation, acculturation, and diabetes risk. Relative to first-generation adults, second-generation adults had an odds ratio OR) of 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4, 2.4) and third-generation adults had an OR of 2.1 (95% CI = 1.4, 3.1) of having diabetes. Greater US acculturation, however, was associated with a slightly decreased diabetes rate. In the full model adjusting for socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, the association between generation (but not acculturation) and diabetes remained significant. Conclusions Our study lends support to the previously contested notion that assimilation is associated with an increased diabetes risk in Mexican immigrants. Researchers should examine the presence of a causal link between assimilation and health more closely.

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Defining and measuring acculturation: A systematic review of public health studies with Hispanic populations in the United States

Cited by 319 publications

References 38 publications

Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status in Research on Child Health

Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status in Research on Child Health

Nativity Status and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among Hispanic Adults

Immigrant Generation and Diabetes Risk Among Mexican Americans: The Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging

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