Denise Krch1,2, Anthony Lequerica1,2, Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla3,4, Heather L Rogers3, John DeLuca1,2,5, Nancy D Chiaravalloti1,2,6. 1. a Traumatic Brain Injury Research , Kessler Foundation , West Orange , NJ , USA. 2. b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School , Newark , NJ , USA. 3. c Department of Psychology , University of Deusto , Bilbao , Spain. 4. d Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science , Bilbao , Spain. 5. e Department of Neurology & Neurosciences , Rutgers New Jersey Medical School , Newark , NJ , USA. 6. f Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research , Kessler Foundation , West Orange , NJ , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the relative contribution of acculturation to two tests of nonverbal test performance in Hispanics. METHOD: This study compared 40 Hispanic and 20 non-Hispanic whites on Digit Symbol-Coding (DSC) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and evaluated the relative contribution of the various acculturation components to cognitive test performance in the Hispanic group. RESULTS: Hispanics performed significantly worse on DSC and WCST relative to non-Hispanic whites. Multiple regressions conducted within the Hispanic group revealed that language use uniquely accounted for 11.0% of the variance on the DSC, 18.8% of the variance on WCST categories completed, and 13.0% of the variance in perseverative errors on the WCST. Additionally, years of education in the United States uniquely accounted for 14.9% of the variance in DSC. CONCLUSIONS: The significant impact of acculturation on DSC and WCST lends support that nonverbal cognitive tests are not necessarily culture free. The differential contribution of acculturation proxies highlights the importance of considering these separate components when interpreting performance on neuropsychological tests in clinical and research settings. Factors, such as the country where education was received, may in fact be more meaningful information than the years of education of education attained. Thus, acculturation should be considered an important factor in any cognitive evaluation of culturally diverse individuals.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the relative contribution of acculturation to two tests of nonverbal test performance in Hispanics. METHOD: This study compared 40 Hispanic and 20 non-Hispanic whites on Digit Symbol-Coding (DSC) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and evaluated the relative contribution of the various acculturation components to cognitive test performance in the Hispanic group. RESULTS: Hispanics performed significantly worse on DSC and WCST relative to non-Hispanic whites. Multiple regressions conducted within the Hispanic group revealed that language use uniquely accounted for 11.0% of the variance on the DSC, 18.8% of the variance on WCST categories completed, and 13.0% of the variance in perseverative errors on the WCST. Additionally, years of education in the United States uniquely accounted for 14.9% of the variance in DSC. CONCLUSIONS: The significant impact of acculturation on DSC and WCST lends support that nonverbal cognitive tests are not necessarily culture free. The differential contribution of acculturation proxies highlights the importance of considering these separate components when interpreting performance on neuropsychological tests in clinical and research settings. Factors, such as the country where education was received, may in fact be more meaningful information than the years of education of education attained. Thus, acculturation should be considered an important factor in any cognitive evaluation of culturally diverse individuals.
Authors: Emily M Briceño; Roshanak Mehdipanah; Xavier F Gonzales; Steven G Heeringa; Deborah A Levine; Kenneth M Langa; Daniel Zahs; Nelda Garcia; Ruth Longoria; Lewis B Morgenstern Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2021-05-07 Impact factor: 7.538
Authors: Angelle M Sander; Jessica M Ketchum; Anthony H Lequerica; Monique R Pappadis; Tamara Bushnik; Flora M Hammond; Mitch Sevigny Journal: J Head Trauma Rehabil Date: 2021 Jul-Aug 01 Impact factor: 3.117
Authors: Emily M Briceño; Roshanak Mehdipanah; Xavier Fonz Gonzales; Kenneth M Langa; Deborah A Levine; Nelda M Garcia; Ruth Longoria; Bruno J Giordani; Steven G Heeringa; Lewis B Morgenstern Journal: Neuropsychology Date: 2020-04-13 Impact factor: 3.295