Impact of acculturation on cardiovascular risk factors among elderly Mexican Americans

PurposeHigher levels of acculturation among Latinos have been shown to be associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in some studies of middle-age persons. The association of acculturation and prevalence of CV risk factors in elderly Latinos is less well established.MethodsAcculturation was measured using the validated bidimensional Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the association of acculturation with prevalence of CV risk factors among 1789 elderly men and women from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging using multivariate linear and logistic regression. We tested for the interaction of acculturation with risk factors by nativity status.ResultsMedian age was 69.8 years. Higher acculturation was associated with lower systolic blood pressure, lower low-density lipoprotein, higher high-density lipoprotein, and lower prevalence of CV disease after age and sex adjustment. Higher acculturation remained associated with lower level of low-density lipoprotein and higher level of high-density lipoprotein after full adjustment. Nativity status did not affect these results.ConclusionsContrary to other reports in middle-aged persons, higher levels of acculturation were associated with better lipid profiles and no significant differences in other CV risk factors by acculturation level in elderly Latinos.     

Does acculturation affect the dietary intakes and body weight status of children of immigrants in the U.S. and other developed countries? A systematic review

Objective: This paper reviews available studies on the relationship between acculturation and obesity among children of immigrants who have at least one foreign-born parent.

Methods: A systematic review of relevant studies was undertaken using PubMed, Web of Science, and PsychInfo.

Results: The initial search identified 1317 potentially relevant publications, of which 21 were retained after three rounds of screening. Most studies were conducted in the U.S. The majority of studies used BMI or overweight/obesity prevalence as the outcome variable, while two studies used dietary intake. Three studies used standardized acculturation scales, while most of the studies used generation, duration of residency in host country, and language as proxy measures of acculturation. The relationship between acculturation and outcomes varied between the host countries and origin countries for children of immigrants.

Conclusion: This study suggests children of immigrants with different cultural backgrounds may interact with host countries to varying degrees, ultimately influencing their diet behaviours and body weight status. Researchers are encouraged to adopt standardized acculturation scales to compare the results across countries and populations.     

Comparative study of diets and disease prevalence in Greek Chians part II Chian immigrants to Athens and to the United States

The study examined differences in Greek and Greek‐American diets and disease patterns related to migration within the Mediterranean and from the Mediterranean to the United States. Data reported here discuss changes in food patterns and health‐related characteristics of two populations, both originating from the Greek island of Chios, residing either in Athens, Greece, or urban centers in the United States. Food consumption and medical history questionnaires were mailed to 2652 Chians residing in Athens, New York, and the San Francisco Bay region of California. A total of 381 usable responses were obtained; 79% of both the Chian Greek and the Chian Greek American sample were first generation emigrants. Food consumption data were analyzed as monthly frequencies of 49 food items and categories using factor analysis and discriminate analysis. Associations between location of residence and disease prevalence were examined using maximum‐likelihood logit analysis; results were controlled for age, Body Mass Index, physical activity, smoking habit, and socio‐economic status. After controlling for these potential confounders, as well as for presence of the conditions of elevated serum cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes, Chian American men were identified at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than their Athenian counterparts (p < 0.06). This difference in risk for CVD may be related to more frequent use of oils and fats other than olive oil, and less frequent use of olive oil. Among women, diabetes exhibited a positive association with Chian women residing in Athens (p < 0.09), which may be explained by a less frequent use of foods rich in complex carbohydrates by Athenian women than by their American counterparts.     

Social support,acculturation stress,and parenting stress among marriage-migrant women

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships between social support, acculturation stress, and the parenting stress of marriage-migrant women.

Visuoconstructional Abilities in Cognitively Healthy Illiterate Turkish Immigrants: A Quantitative and Qualitative Investigation

Assessment of visuospatial function is an integral part of most neuropsychological assessments and is frequently assessed by visuoconstructional tests. A significant impact of limited schooling and illiteracy has been found on numerous neuropsychological tests and it can be difficult to interpret test results from illiterate individuals. In this study, quantitative and qualitative aspects of performance of elderly cognitively healthy illiterate and literate Turkish immigrants were compared on five commonly used visuoconstructional tests. Significantly poorer performances of illiterate compared to literate subjects were found in copying of two- and three-dimensional geometric designs, and in Clock Drawing Test performance. A systematic qualitative analysis found lacking three-dimensionality, “curved angles”, omissions, distorted relation between elements, and spatial disorganization to be common error types in illiterate subjects. Performances were not found to be influenced by duration of residence in Denmark or level of acculturation. The results warrant caution in the interpretation of visuoconstructional test performances in illiterate subjects, as they can easily be misinterpreted as signs of cognitive dysfunction.