Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ACCULTURATION”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Acculturative stress among young immigrants in Norway.

The study examined the relationship between migration and the incidence of emotional disorders among 568 young Third World immigrants in Norway. Participants were 10-17 years of age. Using a questionnaire, acculturative stress (i.e., change in health status as a result of acculturation) was found to exist among the children, although having to migrate or being born in Norway was not related to mental health status. A stressful acculturative experience (i.e., difficulties in initiating friendship with Norwegian peers) alone could account for only 1% of the self reported emotional disorders. Incidence of depressive tendencies, poor self image, and psychological and somatic symptoms were found to be related to close and supportive parents, marginality, integration, gender and the number of friends the child had. These accounted for between 12 and 15% of the explained variance. The paper theoretically discusses how these factors may be related to acculturative stress, and recommends them as starting points for a primary intervention program to reduce emotional disorders among these children.

Acculturation↗

Association between acculturation and structural assimilation and mini-mental state examination-assessed cognitive impairment in older Mexican Americans: findings from the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Older Mexican Americans (MAs) have consistently scored lower on the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) than older European Americans (EAs). These lower scores may arise from factors other than those traditionally posited (age and education). Thus, this study examined the association between acculturation and structural assimilation and MMSE-assessed cognitive impairment, taking into account education, income, and other contextual factors. Subjects were participants in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging, a community-based study of chronic disease and functional status in 457 older MAs and 376 older EAs. Scales were used to measure two dimensions of acculturation: (family attitude, cultural values) and structural assimilation (functional integration into the broader American society). Logistic regression was used to examine the association between age, sex, acculturation, and structural assimilation and MMSE scores suggestive of cognitive impairment (<24). After adjusting for contextual factors (age, sex, education and household income), diseases (diabetes mellitus, stroke, and hypertension), and sensory impairments (hearing and vision), structural assimilation, but neither dimension of acculturation, was significantly and negatively associated with MMSE-assessed cognitive impairment. Older MAs in the lowest structural assimilation stratum were 1.89 times as likely to have MMSE-assessed cognitive impairment as those in the highest. Age, education, and visual impairment were also independently associated with cognitive impairment. These findings highlight the need for geriatricians to take contextual factors (including age, education, and structural assimilation) into account when interpreting MMSE scores of MA patients.

Acculturation↗

Maternal and paternal parenting, acculturation, and young adolescents' psychological adjustment in Korean American families.

PROBLEM: Maintaining healthy psychological adjustment may be more complicated for Korean American young adolescents than for their European American counterparts. Korean American families live in two cultures and the issue of acculturation challenges their parenting, which is a critical factor for young adolescents' psychological adjustment. METHODS: Hierarchical multiple regressions were used to analyze 106 family data (young adolescents, mothers, and fathers) on parenting (acceptance-rejection and behavioral control), acculturation (integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization), and young adolescents' psychological adjustment. FINDINGS: Only young adolescents' reports of maternal and paternal acceptance-rejection were related to their report of psychological adjustment. However, maternal acculturation moderated the relation between mothers' reports of maternal acceptance-rejection and behavioral control and young adolescents' report of their psychological adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Parental acceptance-rejection is related to young adolescents' psychological adjustment when adolescents perceive themselves as accepted or rejected by parents. The relation between mothers' report of maternal acceptance-rejection and behavioral control and adolescents' psychological adjustment needs to be considered within the context of maternal acculturation.

Acculturation↗

Does acculturation influence psychosocial adaptation and well-being in Native Hawaiians?

Native Hawaiians have suffered higher disease rates and achieved lower educational and economic levels than other ethnic groups living in Hawaii. This study tests the hypothesis that cultural affiliation protects against psychosocial pathology in Hawaiians. Subjects included 172 Hawaiians of varying blood quantum and 92 non-Hawaiians. The Na Mea Hawai'i, a rationally derived, empirically validated measure of Hawaiian acculturation was administered to all subjects in addition to psychological tests which included 19 visual analogue scales that measure both state and trait variables. The Na Mea Hawai'i proved excellent at differentiating Hawaiians from non-Hawaiians (p = .0001), and it correlated well with blood quantum (r = 0.31, p = .0001). Low acculturation scores among Hawaiians did not correlate with any measure of discontent or psychosocial pathology irrespective of blood quantum. We conclude that Na Mea Hawai'i is a valid measure of Hawaiian acculturation, and that adaptation of the Hawaiians in our sample has been unaffected by level of acculturation.

Acculturation↗

Language acculturation and screening practices of elderly Hispanic women. The role of exposure to health-related information from the media.

The present study examined the hypothesis that language acculturation of Hispanics in the United States increases their exposure to media-based health information which, in turn, increases medical screening practices and knowledge of cancer symptoms. We interviewed 598 elderly Hispanic women (55-92 years of age) residing in Los Angeles. Language acculturation was measured with items on understanding of English and language preference for interpersonal communication, reading materials, television, and radio. Recency of screening (physician breast exam, Pap smear, routine physical exam, mammogram) and exposure to media-based health information were assessed with Likert-type scales; knowledge of symptoms of breast, cervical, colorectal, and oral cancers was assessed through open-ended questions. The results of multiple regression analyses provide support for the hypothesis. First, language acculturation predicted media exposure after controlling for demographic variables. Second, media exposure predicted screening and symptom knowledge after controlling for language acculturation and the demographic factors. The findings suggest that cancer prevention programs should use Spanish-language media to reach a wider Hispanic audience, especially those who are monolingual.

Acculturation↗

Acculturation and changing concepts of mental disorder: Brazilians in the USA.

Forty-three Brazilian citizens living in the USA judged whether a sample of conditions were mental disorders and rated them on proposed features of the concept of mental disorder. Judgments and ratings were correlated with measures of American acculturation and identification with Brazilian culture, and with years of American residence. Consistent with prediction, greater acculturation was associated with a concept of distúrbio mental that was broader in reach and more intrapsychic in focus. However, greater acculturation was also associated with a stronger tendency to understand disorder as a violation of social expectations and to pathologize behavior in excess or 'acting out.' American acculturation yielded no convergence of distúrbio mental with the concept of disorder embodied in DSM-IV.

Acculturation↗

Measures of psychological acculturation: a review.

This article reviews conceptual and methodological issues in the measurement of psychological acculturation. The major issues involve the question of dimensionality and the assessment of specific domains of cultural change. Bidimensional scales that cover both overt and internal domains are more informative for the assessment of general levels of psychological acculturation. The validity of such scales must be examined in terms of the actual exposure of individuals to and involvement in each culture, and the influence of sociocultural factors on the course of acculturation. The parallel application of qualitative and quantitative methods may be useful for validity studies. The complementary use of emic and etic approaches will enhance the psychometric soundness of acculturation scales.

Acculturation↗

Gender and acculturation influences on physical activity in Latino adults.

BACKGROUND: Studies examining physical activity levels have used samples primarily composed of non-Latino Whites and have focused on leisure time physical activity (LTPA). Additionally, few studies have investigated differences in physical activity between Latino men and Latina women, or the relationship between acculturation and activity. PURPOSE: To examine the subjective and objective physical activity of Latinos and gender differences in physical activity and the extent to which LTPA and non-LTPA were predictive of overall accelerometer physical activity. An additional objective was to examine the relationship between acculturation and different types of physical activity. METHODS: Data were obtained from 155 Latinos (n = 86 female, n = 69 male). Comparisons were made between Latino men and women. RESULTS: Latino men participated in significantly greater occupational and overall objective and subjective physical activity than Latina women; however, women participated in greater household activity. Regression analyses demonstrated that recreational, occupational, and household activity were significant predictors of overall accelerometer physical activity for the complete sample. Among women, recreational and household activity were significant predictors; however, overall accelerometer physical activity was not significantly predicted in men. Additionally, it was demonstrated that acculturation was related to occupational activity, but not to recreational activity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that gender differences in physical activity are present among Latinos and that acculturation may be a correlate of various types of physical activity.

Acculturation↗

Acculturation, reading level, and neuropsychological test performance among African American elders.

The independent effects of cultural and educational experience on neuropsychological test performance were examined among 503 nondemented African Americans ages 65 and older. Measures of cultural experience (acculturation) and quality of education (reading level) were administered. Reading level was the most influential predictor of cognitive test performance, even after accounting for age, sex, years of education, and acculturation level. Age had small but significant unique effects on most measures, especially word list learning. Years of education had independent effects on measures of verbal abstraction, fluency, and figure matching. More acculturated African Americans obtained higher scores on most measures; however, after accounting for age, years of education, sex, and reading level, the effect of acculturation was diminished. The results suggest that quality of education and cultural experience influence how older African Americans approach neuropsychological tasks; therefore, adjustment for these variables may improve specificity of neuropsychological measures.

Acculturation↗

Asian American adolescents' first sexual intercourse: gender and acculturation differences.

CONTEXT: Interventions aimed at adolescents need to be culturally specific. The dearth of data on Asian American adolescents has made it difficult to meet their needs. METHODS: Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used, with a sample of 323 Asian American female adolescents and 366 Asian American male adolescents. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between acculturation at Wave 1 (1995) and sexual experience at Wave 2 (1996), controlling for demographic, psychosocial and family variables. RESULTS: Overall, 24% of young women and 20% of young men had had sexual intercourse. Among young women, the most acculturated were more likely to have had sexual intercourse than the least acculturated (odds ratio, 4.9); acculturation was not associated with sexual intercourse for young men. Medium and high levels of parental attachment were associated with decreased odds of sexual experience for young women (0.4 and 0.2), but not for young men. Binge drinking was associated with an increased risk of sexual experience for young women (6.4), and tobacco use was associated with increased risk for young men (3.0). CONCLUSIONS: Like all adolescents, Asian Americans are at high risk for the consequences of sexual activity. For this fast-growing population, there is a crucial need for preventive programs that are culturally sensitive, inclusive of family and gender-specific.

Acculturation↗

Acculturation and low birthweight among Latinos in the Hispanic HANES.

Self reports from 1,645 Latino mothers of Mexican descent who participated in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) were used to relate the birthweight of their infants to the HHANES acculturation index. After controlling for parity, a one point increase on the acculturation scale was found to be associated with a 1.19 (95% CI = 1.05, 1.34) increase in risk of maternal low birthweight (LBW) (1.98 risk increase for four points). The estimated relative risk increased to 1.34 (1.12, 1.60) with controls for age at interview, wealth, city size, and years of education; controlling for current smoking status reduced the relative risk to 1.31. US-born respondents were also at increased risk relative to Mexican-born, but this relation was explained by acculturation. The effect of education was found to depend on level of acculturation. Years of education was unrelated to risk among the Mexican-oriented, while increased education was associated with reduced risk in the US-oriented. These results suggest that factors associated with a Mexican cultural orientation may be protective against the risk of LBW.

Acculturation↗

Acculturation and low-birthweight infants among Latino women: a reanalysis of HHANES data with structural equation models.

Previous studies have demonstrated that acculturation is associated with negative birth outcomes among mothers in numerous immigrant populations, including Latinas. This study used structural equation models to reanalyze data employed in the 1989 Scribner and Dwyer study on the effect of acculturation (measured through the Cuellar scale) on mothers' low-birthweight status. Data revealed that language components dominate the effects of acculturation on low-birthweight status. Acculturuation appears to affect low-birthweight status indirectly through smoking and dietary intake but not through parity. Acculturation has a persistent direct effect on low-birthweight status, suggesting that other intervening variables are operant.

Acculturation↗

Latina grandmothers raising grandchildren: acculturation and psychological well-being.

Grandparent involvement in raising grandchildren has become increasingly prevalent and represents the family's strength for managing crises and transitions. This study examined acculturation, socioeconomic resources, and family factors related to well-being among 357 Latina caregiving grandmothers. Positive affect was related to greater language acculturation and factors suggesting participation in mainstream society-income and health. In contrast, higher life satisfaction and lower negative affect were more evident among the less acculturated. These relationships disappeared with controls, explained by greater social resources among less acculturated grandmothers: more were married and had the parent at home; fewer assumed care because of the parent's substance-related problems. The parent's presence in the household was related to a higher level of grandmother's well-being until more sensitive family factors were considered. Furthermore, raising grandchildren with behavior problems was related to the grandmother's negative affect. Results suggest that professions should target economic needs of new immigrants, as well as assisting with troubled grandchildren and dysfunctional parents.

Acculturation↗

A mediational model of the relationship between linguistic acculturation and polydrug use among Hispanic adolescents.

Hispanic seventh and eighth graders (N=1,038) in 22 New York City middle or junior high schools completed self-report questionnaires with items related to drug use (cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and marijuana use), linguistic acculturation (language use with parents), perceived peer smoking norms, perceived peer drinking norms, and psychological distress. Students who spoke English with their parents and bilingual students who spoke English and Spanish with their parents engaged in greater polydrug use than those who spoke Spanish with their parents. Bilingual students perceived that a higher proportion of their peers drink than those who spoke Spanish with their parents, and this higher perception of their peers' drinking was associated with greater polydrug use controlling for linguistic acculturation. In the final model, linguistic acculturation was no longer significant and peer drinking norms predicted polydrug use, peer drinking norms mediated the relationship between linguistic acculturation and polydrug use, but not peer smoking norms and psychological distress.

Acculturation↗

Gender and acculturation in relation to alcohol use among Hispanic (Latino) adults in two areas of the northeastern United States.

Telephone surveys were conducted in English or Spanish for 665 Hispanic adult residents of Long Island (New York) and Connecticut in 1992. Reported alcohol use was higher among men than women. In multivariate analyses using logistic regression, both gender and level of acculturation (positive association) were associated with drinking 1 day or more during the past month and with drinking at least 1 day per week. The association between drinking and acculturation was much stronger among women than men; thus, the gender difference in drinking declined with increasing level of acculturation. Studies are needed to delineate the processes whereby gender and acculturation influence the drinking behavior of Hispanics in different geographic areas.

Acculturation↗

[Acculturation attitudes and mental health of international students in their first year].

The aim of the present study was to show relationship between acculturation attitudes and mental health of international students in their first year in Japan. Of 53 new international students at a university, 50 (36 male and 14 female), 19.2 years old on average, completed a questionnaire in May (one month after the arrival), October (six months later), and March of the following year (the last month of the first academic year). The questionnaire consisted of two parts: Acculturation Attitude Scale and SCL-90-R Mental Health Scale. The former was based on Kim (1988) and measured four types of acculturation attitudes: Integration, Assimilation, Separation, and Marginalization (Berry, 1990, 1992; Berry, Trimble, & Olmedo, 1986). Results indicated that effects of acculturation attitudes on mental health of international students became clear in the last month of their first year. It is argued that helping students' integration attitude has beneficial effects on their mental health.

Acculturation↗

Acculturative stress, depression, and suicidal ideation among Central American immigrants.

No previous studies have examined suicide risk among Central American immigrants. The present study explored the relationship between acculturative stress, depression, and suicidal ideation among Central American immigrants. Also examined were variables that predict depression and suicidal ideation. Elevated levels of acculturative stress were significantly correlated with high levels of depression and suicidal ideation. Family dysfunction, ineffective social support, nonpositive expectations concerning the future, low levels of religiosity, low levels of education and income, and lack of agreement with the decision to immigrate were significantly associated with high levels of depression and suicidal ideation. The overall findings suggest that Central American immigrants who experience elevated levels of acculturative stress may be at risk for experiencing heightened levels of depression and suicidal ideation. The findings highlight the importance of using culturally relevant clinical methods when assessing and treating depressed and potentially suicidal acculturating individuals.

Acculturation↗

Negative consequences of acculturation on health behaviour, social support and stress among pregnant Southeast Asian immigrant women in Montreal: an exploratory study.

It is frequently assumed that migrant status constitutes a health risk because migration is inevitably associated with a period of significant adjustment and stress. This paper describes the role of acculturation in understanding the relationship between migration and low birthweight (LBW). Psychosocial and behavioural risk factors for LBW were explored using semi-structured interviews with 17 pregnant Southeast Asian women who represented different levels of acculturation. Findings suggested that acculturation had negative consequences for immigrant women. Higher levels of acculturation were associated with dieting during pregnancy, inadequate social support and stressful life experiences.

Acculturation↗