Hector M González1, Wassim Tarraf, Mary N Haan. 1. Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, 87 East Ferry Street, 226 Knapp Building, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. hmgonzalez@med.wayne.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the acculturation-health relationship using metabolic syndrome biomarkers. METHOD: Cross-sectional sample data. PARTICIPANTS: 1,789 Mexican Americans (60 years and older) from northern California. MAIN OUTCOME: Biomarkers (waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipids) were used to construct the metabolic syndrome indicator using American Heart Association criteria. MAIN PREDICTOR: Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II scores. RESULTS: Higher acculturation scores were associated with a significantly lower risk for the metabolic syndrome for foreign-born, but not U.S.-born, Mexican Americans. CONCLUSION: Immigrant health advantages over U.S.-born Mexican Americans are not evident in older adulthood. Higher acculturation was associated with lowered metabolic syndrome risk among older foreign-born Mexican Americans. This suggests that the prevailing acculturative stress hypothesis may not apply to the health of older adults and that any negative relationship between acculturation and health found in younger adults may yield to different developmental health influences in later adulthood.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the acculturation-health relationship using metabolic syndrome biomarkers. METHOD: Cross-sectional sample data. PARTICIPANTS: 1,789 Mexican Americans (60 years and older) from northern California. MAIN OUTCOME: Biomarkers (waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipids) were used to construct the metabolic syndrome indicator using American Heart Association criteria. MAIN PREDICTOR: Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II scores. RESULTS: Higher acculturation scores were associated with a significantly lower risk for the metabolic syndrome for foreign-born, but not U.S.-born, Mexican Americans. CONCLUSION: Immigrant health advantages over U.S.-born Mexican Americans are not evident in older adulthood. Higher acculturation was associated with lowered metabolic syndrome risk among older foreign-born Mexican Americans. This suggests that the prevailing acculturative stress hypothesis may not apply to the health of older adults and that any negative relationship between acculturation and health found in younger adults may yield to different developmental health influences in later adulthood.
Authors: Mary N Haan; Dan M Mungas; Hector M Gonzalez; Teresa A Ortiz; Ananth Acharya; William J Jagust Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2003-02 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Hector M González; Wassim Tarraf; Myriam Fornage; Kevin A González; Albert Chai; Marston Youngblood; Maria de Los Angeles Abreu; Donglin Zeng; Sonia Thomas; Gregory A Talavera; Linda C Gallo; Robert Kaplan; Martha L Daviglus; Neil Schneiderman Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2019-11-20 Impact factor: 21.566
Authors: Esme Fuller Thomson; Amani Nuru-Jeter; Dawn Richardson; Ferrah Raza; Meredith Minkler Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2013-05-03 Impact factor: 3.390