Patterns of American Immigration and Their Influence on the Acquisition of Neuropsychological Norms for Hispanics,

Abstract

This article examines patterns of legal American immigration (migrations to the United States from abroad) and their direct impact on the acquisition of neuropsychological (NP) normative data for Hispanics. The nonrandom and selective nature of these migrations, and their accompanying demographic attributes, are shown to significantly influence the acquisition process. Specifically, the direct impact of several potential sources of bias while procuring NP norms is explored. Total number of immigrants (absolute immigration), occupational allegiance (and possibly education), and intended area of initial residence seem to play influential roles as a result of their direct impact on demographic characteristics known to have significant effects on neuropsychological performance. Possible solutions capable of enhancing the acquisition process are also addressed.

Characterization and sociocultural predictors of neuropsychological test performance in HIV+ Hispanic individuals.

“…While this may indeed be the case, it is alternately possible that the current findings are applicable to other Hispanic subpopulations, and potentially other racial/ethnic groups who experience similar sociocultural disadvantages. Thus, more research is needed to replicate this study with other Hispanic subpopulations as Hispanic individuals tend to exhibit nonrandom, preferential geographical affinity that could interact with other demographic/cultural factors to create distinct patterns of neuropsychological test performance (Llorente et al, 1999). …”

Racial, Ethnic, and Sociodemographic Differences in the Level of Psychosocial Distress among Older Americans

“…If native-born, then the length of time ancestors have been in the United States may make a difference. Among foreign-born Hispanics, the political or economic reasons for immigration and the recency of immigration are distinguishing factors (see Portes and Truelove 1987;Llorente et al 1999;Ponton and Ardila 1999). It is also important to make similar distinctions when attempting to understand the heterogeneity of the African American elderly population as well.…”

Critical Issues in Cultural Neuropsychology: Profit from Diversity

“…Concentrated in California, Texas, New Mexico, New York, and Florida, but growing rapidly in other regions, current census information indicates that the majority (64%) of Latino/Hispanics in the United States describe themselves as having Mexican background, 10%are Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadoran and Dominican are 3% each, and the remainder describe themselves as having other Central American, South American or other Hispanic or Latino origins. I will not attempt to comprehensively cite all the neuropsychological literature concentrating on Latino American participants across different regions of the US, but it is critical to recognize that this work is relevant to English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and bilingual people (Ardila, Rosselli, & Puente, 1994; Artiola i Fortuny, Heaton, & Hermosillo, 1998; Artiola i Fortuny & Mullaney, 1997; Boone et al, 2007; Cherner et al, 2007; Echemendia, Harris, Congett, Diaz, & Puente, 1997; Heaton et al, 2001; Judd& Beggs, 2005; Llorente, 2007; Llorente, Ponton, Taussig, & Satz, 1999; Loewenstein, Arguelles, Barker, & Duara, 1993; Lopez & Taussig, 1991; Mungas, Reed, Marshall, & Gonzalez, 2000; Ponton & Ardila, 1999; Ponton et al, 1996; Rey, Feldman, Rivas-Vazquez, Levin, & Benton, 1999; Uzzell, Ponton, & Ardila, 2007)(Rivera-Mindt et al, this issue). The tremendous body of literature in Spanish-speaking countries should also be required reading for clinicians and researchers (Artiola i Fortuny et al, 1998; Barraquer-Bordas, 1999; Fernandez & Marcopulos, 2008; Matute, Rosselli, Ardila, & Morales, 2004; Ostrosky-Solis, Ardila, & Rosselli, 1999; Rosselli & Ardila, 2003).…”