Acculturation and the prevalence of depression in older Mexican Americans: baseline results of the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between acculturation, immigration, and prevalence of depression in older Mexican Americans. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis from a cohort study. SETTING: Urban and rural counties of the Central Valley of Northern California. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine Latinos recruited from a population-based sample (85% Mexican Americans) with a mean age of 70.6 (range 60-100; standard deviation (SD) = 7.13); 58.2% were women. MEASUREMENTS: Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies--Depression scale (CES-D). Acculturation was measured with the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans--II. Psychosocial, behavioral, and medical histories were also obtained. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression (CES-D > or = 16) was 25.4%. Women were at greater risk (32.0%) than men (16.3%; male/female odds ratio (OR) = 2.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.90-3.09). The prevalence of depression was higher among immigrants (30.4%, OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.36-2.13), bicultural participants (24.2%, OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.24-2.24), and less-acculturated participants (36.1%, OR = 2.95, 95% CI = 2.22-3.93) compared with U.S.-born (20.5%) and more-acculturated groups (16.1%). When adjustments for education, income, psychosocial, behavioral, and health-problem factors were made, the least-acculturated participants were at significantly higher risk of depression than highly acculturated Mexican Americans (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.06-2.31). CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with previously reported estimates of a higher prevalence of depression for older Mexican Americans than non-Hispanic Caucasians and African Americans and are the first to report the prevalence and risk of depression for older U.S.-born and immigrant Mexican Americans. The high prevalence of depression of the least acculturated group may be related to cultural barriers encountered by immigrants and less-acculturated older Mexican Americans and to poorer health status.     

Acculturation and Stress in a Low-Income Puerto Rican Community

Abstract

In this study, the acculturative stress experienced by Puerto Rican migrants to the urban U.S. is examined. Acculturative stress is defined as length of residence in a novel cultural environment while lacking psychosocial resources to support adaptation to that environment. In a sample of 67 patients seen in a public health nursing agency, it was found that acculturative stress was associated with poorer health status, more behavioral problems, and higher levels of ethnomedical belief. The implications of these results for research on stress and adaptation are discussed.     

Resettling into a new life: Exploring aspects of acculturation that could enhance the mental health of young refugees resettled under the humanitarian programme

Globally, the exodus of individuals who have been forced to flee their home and seek refuge in countries of safety has led to a refugee crisis. The United Kingdom (UK) has engaged with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in playing a significant role in the long‐term resettlement of refugees, half of whom are children and young people. One initiative of such humanitarian resettlement is the Gateway Protection Programme (GPP). To date, there is a dearth of studies investigating aspects of acculturation that affect the mental health of young refugees resettled under the UNHCR humanitarian programme. This study aimed to explore aspects of acculturation that could enhance the mental health of GPP young refugees several years after resettlement. Using narrative research, a purposive sample of 31 GPP young refugees, who had a minimum of three‐year stay in the UK, were recruited from local refugee community organizations. Data were collected through a multi‐method design combining focus group discussions (FGDs) with visual arts‐based narrative research (VABNR) and analysed thematically. Three overarching themes emerged: People and places; Its nearly all new to me; and Finding self. This study contributes important knowledge regarding the mental well‐being of young people who have engaged in a resettlement programme and offers valuable information for policymakers and mental health professionals working with GPP young refugees.     

Acculturation and Food Insecurity Among Puerto Ricans Living in Boston

Objective

To examine the associations among acculturation, food environment, and food insecurity among Puerto Ricans in Boston.

Acculturation and perceived stress in HIV+ immigrants: depression symptomatology in Asian and Pacific Islanders

Asians and Pacific Islanders (API) are among the fastest growing minority groups within the USA, and this growth has been accompanied by an increase in HIV incidence. Between 2000 and 2010, the API HIV infection rate increased from 4.5% to 8.7%; however, there is a paucity of HIV-related research for this group, and even less is known about the prevalence and correlates of antiretroviral therapy adherence behavior, quality of life, impact of stress, and efficacious self-management among HIV+ API Americans. This paper examines how acculturation and perceived stress affect depression symptomatology and treatment seeking in the HIV+ API population. A series of cross-sectional audio computer-assisted self-interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 50 HIV+ API (29 in San Francisco and 21 in New York City). The relationship between acculturation and perceived stress was analyzed, and the results indicate that for those HIV+ API who reported low or moderate acculturation (as compared to those who reported high acculturation), stress was significantly mediated by depression symptomology. Interventions to address acculturation and reduce perceived stress among API generally and Asians specifically are therefore needed.     

Intra-Ethnic Disparities in Respiratory Health Problems Among Hispanic Residents Impacted by a Flood

Objectives. The primary objective of this article is to assess the respiratory health impacts of a flood disaster on Hispanic people residing in the United States, with a focus on intra-ethnic disparities related to age, sex, socioeconomic status, mold exposure, family conflict, English-language proficiency, and a lack of US citizenship. Methods. Data were collected in 2010 after a flood disaster (2006) in El Paso County (Texas), which has a Hispanic majority population. A mail-out population-based survey was used retrospectively to assess respiratory health impacts for 363 people residing in 176 self-identified Hispanic households impacted by the flood; logistic regression was utilized to assess intra-ethnic health disparities in flood impacts. Results. About 41% of individuals experienced one or more post-flood respiratory health problem. Lower income (OR = 0.532,p = .002), mold exposure (OR = 2.267, p < .001), increased family conflict (OR = 1.452, p = .025), English-language proficiency (OR = 4.023, p < .001) and a lack of US citizenship (OR = 13.111, p = .013) were significantly associated with higher odds of respiratory health problems in the regression model. Conclusion. Statistical findings provide evidence of intra-ethnic disparities in post-flood respiratory health status. Specifically within this Hispanic sample, individuals with lower household incomes, whose homes were covered by larger surface areas of mold, and whose families were characterized by increased tension experienced higher odds of post-flood respiratory health problems. Interestingly, greater English-language proficiency and lacking US citizenship were also risk factors. Given that this is one of the first studies of intra-Hispanic disparities in health following a US-based disaster, the findings underscore the importance of considering diversity within the US Hispanic population when studying environmental and post-disaster respiratory health.