College of Health Sciences

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Browsing College of Health Sciences by Subject "Acculturation"

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    Examining the association between acculturation indicators and metabolic syndrome among Hispanic adults
    (Dewald Academic Enterprises, 2023) Ochoa, Alejandra Quezada; Massey-Stokes, Marilyn
    Purpose: To examine the relationship between acculturation indicators and metabolic syndrome among Hispanic adults living in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas metropolitan area. Methods: This study utilized secondary data collected from a larger 2014 study among 128 Hispanic adults living in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington. The current study examined two research questions: (1) Is there a relationship between acculturation indicators (nativity, duration in the United States, and the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics score) and metabolic syndrome among Hispanic adults living in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington? (2) Is there a relationship between acculturation indicators and the individual markers associated with metabolic syndrome (high waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated fasting blood glucose, elevated blood triglycerides, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol among Hispanic adults living in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington? Results: Most participants were female (aged 40 and older) born outside of the United States. More than half of the participants had been in the United States fewer than 20 years and revealed lower acculturation scores. More than one-third of the participants also had metabolic syndrome. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher among females compared to males. Most participants had abnormal high-density lipoprotein and waist circumference. Acculturation scores and nativity were not associated with abnormal metabolic syndrome markers. Duration in the United States was not associated with metabolic syndrome markers of high waist circumference, reduced high-density lipoprotein, and elevated blood triglycerides. However, duration in the United States was associated with metabolic syndrome markers of high blood pressure and elevated fasting blood glucose. Conclusions and Recommendations: Acculturation is a multifaceted, dynamic phenomenon that influences health at multiple levels. Future studies can explore a range of social-ecological factors that interact with acculturation and health. Because metabolic syndrome is considered a “lifestyle syndrome,” there is an additional need to examine behavioral health and relationships among diet, physical activity, and acculturation. Through a social-ecological and culturally relevant lens, health education specialists can lead interprofessional efforts to promote health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors among Hispanic individuals and communities. These action steps can be integral components of professional preparation programs that offer students opportunities to engage in service learning and develop core competencies in their disciplines.
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    Examining the association between acculturation indicators and metabolic syndrome among Hispanic adults
    (11/4/2019) Quezada, Alejandra; Massey-Stokes, Marilyn
    The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between acculturation indicators and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Hispanic adults living in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area in Texas. MetS is a pressing public health problem, and Hispanics have the highest prevalence among all ethnic groups in the United States (35.4%). MetS is a cluster of five risk factors (blood pressure, waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides) that increase a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Currently, Hispanics are the second-largest ethnic group in the United States, and more than one-third of the U.S. Hispanic population is foreign-born. As immigrants and subsequent generations are exposed to the mainstream U.S. culture, the process of acculturation impacts their lifestyle behaviors and health. Acculturation indicators (nativity, duration in the United States, and scores from the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics) and the five MetS markers were assessed among 128 adult participants. Logistic regression modeling was conducted to predict MetS status (present/not present) by acculturation indicators and covariates (sex, age, and education). Additional analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between each individual MetS marker, acculturation indicators, and the identified covariates. For every one-unit increase in a participant’s duration in the United States (measured in years), the likelihood of having abnormal blood pressure increased by 6% and the likelihood of having abnormal blood glucose increased by 5%. Results indicate increasing exposure to the mainstream American culture negatively impacts health risks and status among Hispanics. The primary treatment for MetS is lifestyle modification that includes regular physical activity, healthy eating, and weight loss. Health care providers can aid in reducing MetS prevalence by raising awareness of the condition and associated risk factors among their patients as well as recommending lifestyle modification to reduce their risk. Study results can aid health educators in planning, implementing, and evaluating health communication campaigns and health education/promotion programs to prevent MetS among Hispanics. Further examination of what changes occur in health behaviors that increase risk of MetS would provide further insight into why duration in the United States is associated with elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting blood glucose levels.