Parental Education or Household Income? Which Socioeconomic Status Indicator Can Better Reduce Body Mass Index Disparities among Latino Children?

Assari, Shervin; Malekahmadi, Mohammad; Caldwell, Cleopatra Howard

doi:10.22158/jepf.v7n1p19

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 59 publications

(79 reference statements)

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“…Although high family income correlated with lower BP, this effect was weaker for African American than White adolescents. We explain this finding with an emerging literature that shows high depression [ 38 ], anxiety [ 26 ], stress [ 14 , 39 ], poor diet [ 40 ], and higher body mass index [ 29 , 41 – 43 ] in high SEP African American children and adolescents. There was also a report on the high BP of Latinos with high SEP, but we are unaware of any previous study on the high BP of African American adolescents with high SEP.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

High Systolic Blood Pressure of High-Income African American Children

Assari

Najand²,

Khatami

2023

J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

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Background According to the Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory, racism may reduce the health returns of family socioeconomic status (SEP) resources such as family income for racial minorities, particularly African Americans, compared to Whites. However, we are unaware of any previous studies on racial variation in the protective effects of family income on children’s blood pressure. Aim We conducted this study to compare the overall effects of family income on pre-adolescents’ systolic and diastolic blood pressure, test racial variation in this effect, and investigate whether racial variation in this regard is due to racial differences in body mass index. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 4007 racially diverse US children 9–10 years old. The independent variable was family income measured as a three-level categorical variable: less than $50 K USD, 50–100 K USD, and 100 + K USD. The primary outcomes were systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured up to three times at 1-min time intervals. Body mass index was the mediator. Mixed-effects regression models were used for data analysis to adjust for data nested to the centers, families, and individuals. Age, gender, parental education, family structure, and Latino ethnicity were covariates. Results In the pooled sample and in the absence of interaction terms in the model, family income did not show an inverse association with children’s systolic (for 100 + K USD family income: β = − 0.71, p = 0.233 and for 50–100 K USD family income: β = 0.01, p = 0.989) or diastolic blood pressure (for 100 + K USD family income: β = − 0.66, p = 0.172 and for 50–100 K USD family income: β = 0.23, p = 0.600). However, race showed a significant interaction with family income on systolic blood pressure (for 50–100 K USD × African American: β = 2.75, p = 0.034), suggesting higher systolic blood pressure of African American adolescents from high-income backgrounds. Racial variation in the protective effect of family income on systolic BP was no more significant (for 50–100 K USD × African American: β = 2.14, p = 0.149) after we controlled for body mass index (BMI), which was higher for African American than White adolescents. Conclusion The association between high family income and reduced systolic blood pressure in pre-adolescence might be weaker for African Americans compared to Whites, a difference that African American adolescents’ higher body mass index can explain.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

High Systolic Blood Pressure of High-Income African American Children

Assari

Najand²,

Khatami

2023

J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

Self Cite

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“…The study did not investigate the relationship between educational attainment and BMI for Latinos or other racial/ethnic groups. It is crucial to conduct separate research to understand the specific dynamics and factors that might influence the relationship between educational attainment and BMI for Latinos and other racial and ethnic groups 46 . This could help guide and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issue and inform targeted interventions and policies for this population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between Educational Attainment and Body Mass Index: Role of Race

Cabral,

Camacho Rodriguez,

Feumba Othniel

et al. 2023

j Endocrinol sci

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Background: One of the best recognized health effects of high educational attainment is lower body mass index (BMI), however recent research suggests that this association might be racialized and differ for Black and White individuals. Aims: To investigate whether race moderates the inverse association between educational attainment and BMI as adults. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher with a total sample size of 1972 adults, 128 of whom are Black and 1842 of whom are White, above the age of 24 in the United States. The sample was randomly selected. Educational attainment and income were independent variables. BMI was the outcome. Linear regression was used for multivariable analysis. SPSS was used for data analysis. Results: Income was inversely associated with BMI. There was a statistical interaction between race and educational attainment suggesting a weaker inverse association between education and BMI for Black than White adults. Conclusion: Opposite to the pattern for Whites, being a highly educated individual in the US does not lend protection against high BMI for Black people. This finding may reflect racism, social stratification, and marginalization of Black Americans in the US, regardless of their education. High BMI of highly educated Black Americans may be due to poor nutrition, low physical activity, and/or low walkability of neighborhood; however, such conclusions require additional research.

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“…Racial disparities in health outcomes, such as higher BMI, persistently challenge public health efforts aimed at achieving health equity 14 . These disparities are shown to persist even among high SES individuals, suggesting that the effects of SES indicators are weaker for Black individuals compared to White individuals [15][16][17][18][19] , as suggested by the concept of Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) 20 . According to MDRs, social stratification, segregation, structural racism, limited access to healthcare, and economic inequalities reduce the effects of SES indicators for Black individuals compared to their White counterparts 21 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Race, Socioeconomic Status, Health Locus of Control, and Body Mass Index

Assari,

Najand

2023

J Ment Health Clin Psychol

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Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the complex interplay between socioeconomic status (SES), internal and external health locus of control, and body mass index (BMI) in a national sample of US adults. Given the unique challenges faced by Black individuals, it was hypothesized that the relationships between SES, internal and external health locus of control, and BMI would be weaker for Blacks compared to Whites. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, baseline data from the MIDUS Refresher sample, consisting of US adults, were analyzed. SES indicators such as income and education were examined as predictors of internal and external health locus of control. The analyses were conducted overall without and with race interactions. We also ran models within different racial groups. Results: Overall, 3198 participants entered our analysis who were White or Black. From this number, 2925 (91.5%) were White and 273(8.5%) were Black. In the pooled sample, high education and income were linked to higher internal and lower external health locus of control and lower BMI. The study revealed that the relationships between high SES indicators (income and education), internal health locus of control, and BMI were weaker for Black than White individuals. The study revealed that the relationships between high SES indicators (income and education) and external health locus of control was stronger for Black than White individuals. Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the complex interrelationships between SES, health locus of control, and BMI, while highlighting the role of race as a moderating factor. The findings suggest that the effects of SES on internal health locus of control is influenced by race, with weaker relationships observed among Black individuals compared to Whites.

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Parental Education or Household Income? Which Socioeconomic Status Indicator Can Better Reduce Body Mass Index Disparities among Latino Children?

Cited by 4 publications

References 59 publications

High Systolic Blood Pressure of High-Income African American Children

High Systolic Blood Pressure of High-Income African American Children

Association between Educational Attainment and Body Mass Index: Role of Race

Race, Socioeconomic Status, Health Locus of Control, and Body Mass Index

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