scholarly journals Explaining the Alcohol Immigrant Paradox: Perspectives from Mexican American Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Priscilla Lui ◽  
Yuying Tsong ◽  
Savannah Pham ◽  
Banan Ramadan ◽  
Lucia Quezada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Immigrant Paradox ◽  
Alcohol Involvement

Native-born Latinx Americans are at greater risk for alcohol use and misuse than their foreign-born peers (i.e., the alcohol immigrant paradox). To understand this phenomenon, we conducted a qualitative study with Mexican American adults in the community to explore their perspectives on reasons that may explain the alcohol immigrant paradox. Community adults from the Southwest United States were recruited to participate in the present focus group study (N = 32, Mage = 32.8, 63.0% women). Participants shared their observations, beliefs, and lived experiences regarding alcohol use and misuse during in-person semi-structured interviews. Using a combination of grounded theory and consensual qualitative research approaches, we identified three key themes that illuminated Mexican Americans’ perspectives regarding factors that may underlie the immigrant paradox in alcohol involvement: (1) exposure to risks in the U.S., (2) loss of Mexican values that are protective against alcohol misuse, and (3) deterrents specific to immigrants. Participants’ perceptions for reasons that explain nativity differences in alcohol use were consistent with erosion theory. To the effect of considering negative drinking-related social consequences, participants indicated that this nativity difference also may explain the immigrant paradox in alcohol involvement. This type of immigrant-specific deterrents to engaging in (hazardous) drinking is not currently represented in the literature. New knowledge gleaned from Mexican Americans’ perspectives can inform future research that examines the possible mechanisms and moderating conditions that underlie the alcohol immigrant paradox.

Acceptance of the HPV Vaccine in a Multiethnic Sample of Latinx Mothers

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 472-483
Author(s):  
Ana Cristina Lindsay ◽  
Madelyne J. Valdez ◽  
Denisse Delgado ◽  
Emily Restrepo ◽  
Yessica M. Guzmán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Hpv Vaccine ◽  
Female Adolescents ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Direct Benefits ◽  
Multiethnic Sample

This descriptive qualitative study explored Latinx mothers’ acceptance of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for their adolescent children. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a hybrid method of thematic analysis that incorporated deductive and inductive approaches. Twenty-two ( n = 22), mostly foreign-born, Latinx mothers of male and female adolescents participated in the study. Three main themes and nine subthemes emerged from the analyses. Findings identified the need for increased efforts to raise awareness and knowledge among Latinx mothers of the direct benefits of the HPV vaccine for sons, including stressing prevention of HPV-associated cancers in males. Findings also underscore the need for improved health care providers’ communication and recommendation of the HPV vaccine for Latinx adolescent males. Future research should intervene upon the study’s findings to address barriers that remain and affect Latinx mothers’ acceptance and uptake of the HPV vaccine for their children, in particular their sons.

scholarly journals Cross-national Comparison Examining Breastfeeding and Child Malnutrition Among Mexicans (P11-106-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Paola Campos ◽  
Summer Hawkins
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
National Health ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Low Birthweight ◽  
Child Malnutrition ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Child Overweight ◽  
American Children

Abstract Objectives To examine the effects of breastfeeding duration and contextual factors at individual- and household-levels on child malnutrition, including overweight and stunting, in Mexican and Mexican-American children aged 3–35 months. Methods Secondary data analysis of 2,311 Mexican children from the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey and 829 Mexican-American children from the 2007–2014 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using independent and pooled logistic regression models to examine bivariate and multivariate associations. Results The prevalence of breastfeeding initiation and any breastfeeding for ≥ 3 months was higher in Mexican (94.2% and 83.5%) versus Mexican-American children (76.4% and 43.0%). Among the latter, those with foreign-born household reference person (HRP) were more likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding than US-born counterparts. The prevalence of child overweight did not differ in either population (9.0% in Mexicans versus 8.8% in Mexican-Americans), but among the latter, those with foreign-born HRP had higher prevalence for child overweight than US-born counterparts. The prevalence of child stunting was higher in Mexicans (11.6%) versus Mexican-Americans (2.0%) and no difference was found between children with foreign- or US-born HRP. We found no evidence for an association between any breastfeeding for ≥ 3 months and either measure of child malnutrition among Mexicans or Mexican-Americans when compared to those who were never breastfed. High- and low-birthweight were risk factors across the 2 populations for child overweight (AOR 2.72, 95% CI 1.81-4.08) and stunting (AOR 4.22, 95% CI 2.79-6.40), accordingly. We also identified additional country-specific risk and protective factors. Conclusions Culturally-sensitive interventions should focus on women prenatally using prophylactic strategies to prevent offspring high- and low-birthweight as these were risk factors for child malnutrition. These interventions should also include postnatal strategies to maintain and foster positive maternal health behaviors, including breastfeeding. Funding Sources No funding was received for this research. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

scholarly journals Prevalence and Trends in Morbidity and Disability Among Older Mexican Americans in the Southwestern United States, 1993–2013

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc A. Garcia ◽  
Adriana M. Reyes
Keyword(s):  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Activity Of Daily Living ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Reduced Activity

This study examines the prevalence of morbidity and disability among older Mexican Americans using 5-year age groups. Twenty-year panel data from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly are used to make detailed comparisons by nativity and gender. Results show that prevalence rates for most chronic conditions for both males and females do not vary by nativity. For disabilities, nativity is a significant predictor of increased instrumental activity of daily living disability for foreign-born females and reduced activity of daily living disability for U.S.-born males. Additionally, results show significant interactions between nativity and age cohorts, with the gap increasing with age for males and decreasing with age for females. These results have important implications for health services and health policy. Given the rapid aging of the Mexican American population, the prevention and treatment of medical conditions, particularly among the foreign-born, should be a major public health priority to reduce dependence from disabilities.

scholarly journals Social Determinants of Polypharmacy in First Generation Mexican Immigrants in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 86-90
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Mohammed Saqib ◽  
Cheryl Wisseh ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Mexican Immigrants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Foreign Born

Introduction: Socioeconomic status (SES) indicators are among the main social determinants of health and illness. Less, however, is known about the role of SES in the epidemiology of polypharmacy in immigrant Latino Americans living in the United States. This research studied the association between three SES indicators, education, income, and employment, and polypharmacy in older first generation Latino American immigrant adults. Methods: Data was obtained from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA, 1996-2008). A total of 632 older first generation Mexican-American immigrants to the U.S. entered this analysis. The independent variables were education, income, and employment. Polypharmacy was the outcome. Age, gender, physical health, smoking, and drinking were the covariates. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Results: Employment was associated with lower odds of polypharmacy. The association between education and polypharmacy was above and beyond demographic factors, physical health, health behaviors, and health insurance. Neither education nor income were associated with polypharmacy. Other determinants of polypharmacy were poor self-rated health (SRH) and a higher number of chronic medical conditions (CMCs). Conclusion: Employment appears to be the major SES determinant of polypharmacy in older foreign-born Mexican Americans. Unemployed older Mexican American immigrants with multiple chronic diseases and those who have poor SRH have the highest need for an evaluation of polypharmacy. Given the age group of this population, most of them have health insurance, which provides an opportunity for reducing their polypharmacy.

scholarly journals Neuropsychiatric Symptoms by Cognitive Status for Mexican-Americans Aged 85 and Older

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 893-893
Author(s):  
Lan Vu
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Marginal Effect ◽  
Care Recipients

Abstract Older adults with dementia and cognitive impairment often experience neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS). Few studies have investigated the presence of NPS among older Mexican-American adults. Our objective was to describe the NPS of Mexican-Americans 85 years and older according to cognitive status. Data came from wave 9 (conducted in 2016) of the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly. The final sample consisted of 381 care recipients aged 85 years and older, along with their caregivers. The 12-item Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-12) was administered to measure behavioral and psychiatric symptoms among the care recipients. Cognitive impairment was defined as a score of 18 or less on the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE). Care recipients with a diagnosis of dementia as reported by the caregiver were also classified as cognitively impaired. Overall, 259 (68.0%) participants had one or more NPS. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the average marginal effect (range = -1 to 1) of cognitive impairment on NPS, controlling for care-recipient characteristics. Approximately 87% of care recipients with cognitive impairment had at least one NPS compared to 55.8% of those without cognitive impairment (p<0.01). The predicted probability of having one or more NPI symptoms was 0.25 percentage points (95% CI=0.14-0.35) higher for participants with cognitive impairment than those without. NPS are present in the majority of older Mexican American adults, particularly in those with cognitive impairment. Future research could also investigate sociodemographic correlates of NPS.

scholarly journals Flipping the Script in Study Abroad Participation: The Influence of Popular Culture and Social Networks

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-37
Author(s):  
Shelbee Nguyen ◽  
Joellen E. Coryell
Keyword(s):  
Popular Culture ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Hispanic Serving ◽  
Study Abroad Program

This study explores primary perceptions of and motivations to study abroad for adult and higher education learners. A large Hispanic-serving Southwestern university serves as the context of this study where undergraduate students and one graduate student were enrolled in an Italian urbanism study abroad program. The age of the participants ranged from 20 to 47, with six males and 11 females (N = 17) for an average age of 25. Participants self-identified as Caucasian (35%), Asian (6%), Latino/a (24%), Middle-Eastern (6%), and Mexican-American (52) %. Semi-structured interviews assessed formative and influential messages impacting perceptions of and motivations to study abroad. Findings lend special importance to popular culture, peer networks within and outside the institution and socially constructed meaning made about study abroad. Limitations of this study are highlighted, along with implications and directions for future research.

scholarly journals The Starr County Border Health Initiative: Focus Groups on Diabetes Prevention in Mexican Americans

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon A. Brown ◽  
William B. Perkison ◽  
Alexandra A. García ◽  
Heather E. Cuevas ◽  
Mary M. Velasquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Diabetes Prevention ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Mexico Border

Purpose The purpose of the study was to conduct focus groups with Mexican Americans in an impoverished rural community on the Texas-Mexico border to identify current barriers to adopting healthier lifestyles and to obtain recommendations for diabetes prevention. Methods Three separate 2-hour focus groups were led by an experienced bilingual Mexican American moderator. Interviews included questions about cultural factors and barriers that influence lifestyle behaviors, aspects of previous diabetes self-management interventions that were helpful for motivating behavioral change, and recommendations for diabetes prevention. Results Twenty-seven participants attended a focus group session; each session involved 7 to 12 informants. Individuals were diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus; most were female, foreign born, and Spanish speaking. Interviews documented the cultural importance of food. Informants raised priority issues for diabetes prevention, including the need to learn how to prepare healthier foods and track caloric intake. Major barriers to healthier lifestyles included high costs of healthy foods, fatigue from busy schedules and working multiple jobs, a cultural view that exercise is a waste of valuable time, and fear of deportation. Conclusions Cultural influences and barriers to implementing healthy lifestyles should be assessed regularly and strategies implemented to overcome them. Such factors may change as environmental, sociocultural, and political environments change.

scholarly journals Age of Migration and the Incidence of Cognitive Impairment: A Cohort Study of Elder Mexican-Americans

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc A Garcia ◽  
Adriana M Reyes ◽  
Brian Downer ◽  
Joseph L Saenz ◽  
Rafael A Samper-Ternent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Immigrant Women ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Mexican American Women ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
High Dependency ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
Immigrant Men

Abstract Background and Objectives To explore nativity and age of migration differentials in the incidence of cognitive impairment among older Mexican-Americans. Research Design and Methods We employ maximum-likelihood discrete time hazard models to estimate risk ratios of cognitive impairment in a sample of 2,708 Mexican-Americans 65 and older who were cognitively healthy at baseline over a follow-up period of up to 20 years. Results Late-life immigrant women have a 46% higher risk of cognitive impairment compared to U.S.-born Mexican-American women. Conversely, midlife immigrant men have a 29% lower risk of cognitive impairment compared to U.S.-born Mexican-American men. The incidence of cognitive impairment did not differ for early-life and midlife immigrant women relative to U.S.-born women or for early- and late-life immigrant men compared to U.S.-born men. Discussion and Implications Differences in cognitive impairment risk between U.S.-born and foreign-born Mexican-American subgroups may be partly due to health selectivity. Cognitive impairment is more prevalent among immigrant groups which may result in a higher burden on family members and/or high dependency on public resources. Programs are needed that can detect decline at earlier stages and reduce the risk for cognitive impairment among older immigrants entering their last decades of life.

Age and marital status predictors of binge alcohol use among adults with major depressive episode

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Areen Omary
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Depressive Episode ◽  
Major Depressive Episode ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Never Married ◽  
At Risk Populations

Aims: This study aims to examine if age and marital status can predict the risk for binge alcohol use (BAU) among adults with a major depressive episode (MDE). Methods: Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2018 National Survey for Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were analyzed. The unweighted sample included 6,999 adults representing a weighted population size of 33,900,452.122 in the US. Results and Conclusions: The findings of this retrospective research confirmed that age and marital status significantly predicted BAU in the past month among adults with MDE. Adults with MDE at higher risk for BAU were adults under the age of 50, adults who were never married, and adults who were divorced/separated. Special attention must be paid to those in age groups under 50, never married, and have been separated/divorced who are particularly at-risk for future alcohol abuse. Future research should consider examining additional potential confounders for BAU among other at-risk populations.

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