Dataset Information

Nativity Differences in Youths' Weight Trajectories: Foreign-Born Health Integration during the Transition to Adulthood.

ABSTRACT: Nativity differences in youths' health in the United States are striking, with the children of foreign-born parents showing more favorable outcomes than those of native-born parents. Very little is known about how inequalities evolve within the same individuals over time, or more generally about life cycle aspects of the health integration of youth with migration backgrounds. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, I examine nativity differences in trajectories of weight gain during adolescence and early adulthood, as well as the degree to which trajectories are stratified by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Do nativity differences converge, diverge or remain stable over time, and how are patterns socially stratified within and across nativity groups? I find that first-generation adolescents begin at a lower weight than their third generation peers and gain weight at a significantly slower pace, producing meaningful differences by early adulthood. More complex examination of the relationship between nativity and weight gain reveals additional differences by ethnicity: the foreign-born advantage over time does not extend as strongly to Hispanic adolescents. The findings demonstrate how the health-related integration of foreign-born youth is tied to race/ethnicity and socioeconomic circumstances, and suggest the need to examine the ways in which social circumstances and health change together.

SUBMITTER: Jackson MI

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4129945 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Nativity Differences in Youths' Weight Trajectories: Foreign-Born Health Integration during the Transition to Adulthood.

Jackson Margot I MI

Social science research 20110901 5

Nativity differences in youths' health in the United States are striking, with the children of foreign-born parents showing more favorable outcomes than those of native-born parents. Very little is known about how inequalities evolve within the same individuals over time, or more generally about life cycle aspects of the health integration of youth with migration backgrounds. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, I examine nativity differences in trajectories of w ...[more]

PMID: 25125712

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Project description:BackgroundCancer is the leading cause of death among Latinos, the largest minority population in the United States (US). To address cancer challenges experienced by Latinos, we conducted a catchment area population assessment (CAPA) using validated questions from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) population health assessment supplement at our NCI-designated cancer center in California.MethodsA mixed-methods CAPA was administered by bilingual-bicultural staff, with a focus on understanding the differences between foreign-born and US-born Latinos.Results255 Latinos responded to the survey conducted between August 2019 and May 2020. Most respondents were foreign-born (63.9%), female (78.2%), and monolingual Spanish speakers (63.2%). Results showed that compared to US-born Latinos, foreign-born individuals were older, had lower educational attainment, were most likely to be monolingual Spanish speakers, were low-income, and were more likely to be uninsured. Foreign-born Latinos had lower levels of alcohol consumption and higher consumption of fruits and vegetables. The rate of preventive cancer screenings for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer did not differ by birthplace, although a low fraction (35.3%) of foreign-born Latinas who were up-to-date compared to US-born Latinas (83.3%) with colorectal cancer screening was observed. Time since the last routine check-up for all preventable cancers (cervical p=0.0002, breast p=0.0039, and colorectal p=0.0196) is significantly associated with being up to date with cancer screening. Individuals who had a check-up of two or more years ago are 84% less likely to be up to date with pap smears than those who had a check-up within the year (p=0.0060). Individuals without health insurance are 94% less likely to be up to date with mammograms and colonoscopy/FIT tests (p=0.0016 and p=0.0133, respectively) than those who are insured. There is no significant association between screening and nativity.ConclusionsConsiderable differences in socio-economic and environmental determinants of health and colorectal cancer screening rates were observed between US-born and foreign-born Latinos. The present study represents the foundation for future targeted intervention among immigrant populations at our cancer center's catchment area.

Dataset Information

Nativity Differences in Youths' Weight Trajectories: Foreign-Born Health Integration during the Transition to Adulthood.

Publications

Nativity Differences in Youths' Weight Trajectories: Foreign-Born Health Integration during the Transition to Adulthood.

Similar Datasets

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