Socioeconomic gradients in body mass index (BMI) in US immigrants during the transition to adulthood: examining the roles of parental education and intergenerational educational mobility

Abstract

Background Despite comparatively lower socioeconomic status (SES), immigrants tend to have lower body weight and weaker SES gradients relative to U.S.-born individuals. Yet, it is unknown how changes in SES over the life-course relate to body weight in immigrants versus US-born individuals. Methods We used longitudinal data from a nationally-representative, diverse sample of 13701 adolescents followed into adulthood to investigate whether associations between SES mobility categories (educational attainment reported by individuals as adults and by their parents during adolescence) and body mass index (BMI) measured in adulthood varied by immigrant generation. Weighted multivariable linear regression models were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and immigrant generation. Results Among first generation immigrants, although parental education was not associated with adult BMI, an immigrant’s own education attainment was inversely associated with BMI (β=−2.6 kg/m2; standard error (SE)=0.9, p<0.01). In addition, upward educational mobility was associated with lower adult mean BMI than remaining low SES (β= −2.5 kg/m2; SE=1.2, p<0.05). In contrast, among U.S.-born respondents, college education in adulthood did not attenuate the negative association between parental education and adult BMI. Although an SES gradient emerged in adulthood for immigrants, remaining low SES from adolescence to adulthood was not associated with loss of health advantage relative to U.S.-born respondents of U.S.-born parents of similar SES. Conclusion Immigrants were able to translate higher SES in adulthood into a lower adult mean BMI regardless of childhood SES, whereas the consequences of lower childhood SES had a longer reach even among the upwardly mobile U.S.-born.

Intergenerational education mobility and depressive symptoms in a population of Mexican origin

“…It is also possible, however, that those aged approximately 18–40 years have not achieved their maximal educational attainment, resulting in an underestimate of potential future educational mobility and thereby biasing our results towards the null. Nonetheless, educational attainment is a key measure of socioeconomic position, and its use is consistent with other studies examining socioeconomic effects among Latino populations[29, 30]. …”

“…We utilized a lower education cut point for SALSA participants than NLDS participants to account for age- and location-related differences in education levels between generations in the two cohorts. Further, education cut points were based on categorization used in previous SALSA analyses and other studies of similar populations[29, 30]. If both parents of an NLDS participant were SALSA participants, the more highly-educated parent was linked to the NLDS participant.…”

Perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among US Latinos: the modifying role of educational attainment

“…Income and education were very highly correlated in our dataset, and as a result we chose education as our primary measure of socioeconomic position. This is consistent with other studies among the Latino population (Zeki Al Hazzouri et al 2015; Albrecht and Gordon-Larsen 2014). Further, education is often the preferred measure since it not only predicts future occupation and wages, but it is also less influenced by age-related changes in these characteristics (Laaksonen et al 2005; Adler and Newman 2002).…”

“…We classified educational attainment for NLDS participants as low (≤12 years) or high (>12 years). These education cut points were supported by other studies of similar populations (Zeki Al Hazzouri et al 2015; Albrecht and Gordon-Larsen 2014). …”

Change in waist circumference with longer time in the United States among Hispanic and Chinese immigrants: the modifying role of the neighborhood built environment

“…However, existing research is dominated by cross-sectional designs – meaning these studies do not document the experience of the same immigrant over time. Results from the few available prospective studies suggest most immigrants, young and old, experience similar or less weight gain over time compared to US-born groups, thus maintaining their health advantage [9-13]. …”