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Acculturation and the Health and Well-Being of U.S. Immigrant Adolescents

Yu SM, ScD, MPH Huang ZJ, MB, PhD, MPH Schwalberg R, MPH Overpeck MD, DrPH Kogan MD, PhD. Acculturation and the Health and Well-Being of U.S. Immigrant Adolescents. Background. Nearly 14 million immigrant children in U.S.

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Acculturation and the Health and Well-Being of U.S. Immigrant Adolescents

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  1. Yu SM, ScD, MPH Huang ZJ, MB, PhD, MPH Schwalberg R, MPH Overpeck MD, DrPH Kogan MD, PhD Acculturation and the Health and Well-Being of U.S. Immigrant Adolescents

  2. Background • Nearly 14 million immigrant children in U.S. • Growth of immigrant students in K-12 from 6% in 1970 to 19% in 1997 • IOM report found first generation immigrant adolescents in better health and have lower risk behaviors; but adjustment problems and acculturative stress in LEP population • Language at home is a measure of acculturation

  3. Study Objective • To estimate prevalence of health, psychosocial and parental risk factors by race/ethnicity and language groups • To examine association of the degree of acculturation and race/ethnicity and risk factors

  4. Methods • 1997-98 WHO Study of Health Behavior in School Children (HBSC) • National representative sample of grades 6-10 in U.S. schools • Black and Hispanic youths oversampled • 83 percent participation rate in 386 schools • Anonymous standardized questionnaires

  5. Study Population Total N=15,220 • N-H White=8,915 • N-H Black=2,667 • Hispanic=2,942 • N-H Asian=696

  6. Variables • Independent variable • Language spoken at home • Outcome variables • Health factors • Psychosocial school factors • Parental factors • Control variables • Gender, maternal education, age

  7. Language at Home and Nativity Status Within Race/Ethnicity Groups (Percents)

  8. Mixed language N=395 Only other language N=123 Students in class do not enjoy being together 1.4 (NS) 2.2 Students do not feel safe at school 1.5 1.6 (NS) 1.2 (NS) 2.5 Parents not ready to help 1.2 (NS) 2.4 Parents expect too much 2.1 2.8 Bullied at school Odds Ratios of Selected Outcomes Based on Language at Home Among N-H Whites

  9. Odds Ratios of Selected Outcomes Based on Language at Home Among N-H Blacks

  10. Odds Ratios of Selected Outcomes Based on Language at Home Among Hispanics

  11. Odds Ratios of Selected Outcomes Based on Language at Home Among Asians

  12. Odds Ratios of Parents Not Ready to Help Among Students Who Speak Only Another Language at Home Reference group=English only N-H White

  13. Odds Ratios of Parents Expecting Too Much of Student at School Among Students Who Speak Only Another Language at Home Reference group=English only N-H White

  14. Odds Ratios of Parent Not Willing to Talk to Teacher Among Students Who Speak Another Language Reference group=English only N-H White

  15. Odds Ratios of Being Bullied at School Among Students Who Speak Another Language Reference group=English only N-H White

  16. Odds Ratios of Not Feeling Safe at School Among Students Who Speak Another Language Reference group=English only N-H White

  17. Conclusions • Complex interaction among immigration, race/ethnicity, and linguistic assimilation • All non-White youths at higher risk of being bullied • All ‘other language’ youths experience elevated psychosocial and parental risks • Level of acculturation associated with risk in each race/ethnicity

  18. Limitations • Underestimate of risk due to in-school population • Absenteeism • Lack of citizenship information • Lack of info. on length of time in U.S.

  19. Implications • Risk reduction intervention should be targeted towards new immigrants of all races and ethnic groups • Diversity within race/ethnic group should be recognized • Outreach programs needed for parents of immigrant children

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