Suchergebnisse

Challenged is the notion that ethnic differences in age identifications between older Mexican Americans & Anglos are totally a function of socioeconomic status differences between the two groups. After socioeconomic status differences were controlled in a sample from San Antonio, Tex, a direct effect of ethnicity on age identification was maintained. It is concluded that the greater willingness of Mexican Americans to view themselves as old may be related to their greater isolation from the values of the larger society, which define old age in largely negative terms. 1 Table, 1 Figure. AA.

In "Measuring Intergenerational Value Differences" (see SA 26:3/J3291), J. R. Penn's discussion of generational value differences in a sample of F Coll students & their parents is objectionable on two counts: (1) the use of 'generation gap', & (2) his causal analysis of observed value differences. As a concept, 'generation gap' is deficient, & Penn does not account for the possibility of value differences within a 'cohort gap' or a 'lineage gap'. Penn's method of data collection was such that he could have measured value differences intra- as well as intergenerationally with a Likert-type scale. Penn views value differences as being caused by economic conditions, eg, depression, recession, & inflation. But it is implied that parents of his sample never saw the depression except as small children, & recession & inflation are not unique factors in the lives of any cohort; they are merely facts of the business cycle. He confuses life-cycle stages with differences in values between generations & assumes that the young experience international issues such as war & nuclear threat differently from parents. L. Kamel.

Drawing on eight waves of data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly, this study uses growth curve models to provide a better understanding of the impact of age at immigration and gender on age trajectories of depressive symptoms among older adults of Mexican descent (aged 65+). The findings reveal that (1) regardless of immigrant status and age at immigration, men have similar age trajectories of depressive symptoms; (2) compared with U.S.-born women, late-life (beyond age 50) immigrant women report more depressive symptoms at age 65, whereas midlife (between ages 20 and 49) immigrant women experience steeper increases in these symptoms with age; (3) controlling for socioeconomic status leads to advantages in mental health at age 65, but steeper age-related increases in depressive symptoms among midlife (between ages 20 and 49) immigrant men and fewer depressive symptoms among late-life (beyond age 50) immigrant women.

Objective. We reviewed recent evidence on the apparent Hispanic mortality paradox.
Methods. Recent studies using vital statistics, national community surveys linked to the National Death Index, Medicare data linked to application records for social security cards maintained in the Social Security Administration NUDIMENT file, and mortality follow-up by regional studies are reviewed critically.
Results. Data based on vital statistics show the greatest mortality advantage compared with non-Hispanic Whites for all Hispanics combined. The advantage is greatest among older people. National Community Surveys linked to the National Death Index show a narrowing of the advantage, and one study suggests that the Mexican Origin mortality advantage can be attributed to selective return migration of less healthy immigrants to Mexico. The Medicare–NUDIMENT data that avoid problems of other data sets also show an advantage in mortality among Hispanic elders, although the advantage is considerably lower than is found using the vital statistics method.
Discussion. Although some research has recently begun to question whether indeed all Hispanic groups enjoy a mortality advantage, the majority of the evidence continues to support a mortality advantage at a minimum among Mexican Americans and especially in old age, at least among men, which may provide partial, albeit indirect, support for a selective return migration or "salmon bias" effect. There is a need to further explore the existence of a selective return migration effect with expanded data bases that include more subjects from the various Hispanic origins. To date, the majority of the evidence continues to support the Hispanic paradox at least among people of Mexican origin and calls for additional attention to this interesting and highly important phenomenon.

The fixed, nurturant, & multiple role hypotheses have emerged as the dominant explanations for gender differences in illness & illness behavior. To investigate whether they could explain health differences in a different cultural setting, interview data from the middle & younger cohorts (total N = 712) of a 3-generation study of Mexican Americans in San Antonio, Tex, are analyzed. Focus is on the relationship between health status, illness behavior, & employment/marital/parenthood status, controlling for the effects of age, education, & income. Regression analyses reveal that while Ms & married Fs did not suffer from the effects of fixed, nurturant, or multiple roles, significant effects were observed for divorced & separated Fs. 6 Tables, 36 References. Modified HA

Home interviews conducted with 3 generations of Mexican Americans (total N = 1,125 Rs) in San Antonio, Tex, revealed that most Rs were Catholics, & that little change in religious affiliation took place from generation to generation. The older & middle generations attended church more frequently than the younger generation, but large proportions in all generations defined themselves as religious. Church attendance & religiosity tended to be significantly correlated with families, with the correlations higher between adjacent generations. 4 Tables, 15 References. Modified HA.

A replication of Rosalie Gilford's & Vern L. Bengtson's analysis (see SA 28:3/80K8103) of marital satisfaction in Anglo-Americans with interview data from a 3-generation sample of Mexican Americans (N = 1,125 divided into 3 generation groups). As in the earlier study, members of the younger generation have the highest marital satisfaction. However, unlike the Gilford & Bengtson findings, there is a U-shaped satisfaction curve across the life cycle only for men. For women, successively lower marital satisfactions levels from younger to older generations are observed. On three other single-item indicators, high levels of marital satisfaction are observed in the older generation, with women being somewhat less satisfied. These findings are discussed in terms of differences in M-F expectations & opportunities within the Mexican-American culture. 1 Table, 23 References. Modified HA

Purpose. To document the prevalence of obese Mexican-Americans never advised by health professionals regarding exercise and diet, and to determine risk factors for no advice. Methods. Data came from 1787 obese Mexican-American adults (body mass index ≥ 30; age ≥ 18 years) in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The survey included self-reported receipt of health care provider advice on exercise and diet as well as sociodemographic, health-related, and provider-related factors. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed separately for advice regarding exercise and advice regarding diet. Results. Overall, 45% of respondents reported that they had never received advice from a doctor or health care professional to exercise more, and 52% reported that they have received advice to eat fewer higher-fat/high-cholesterol foods. Men, nonmarried respondents, lower-educated respondents, those who preferred to speak Spanish at home, and those without comorbid chronic conditions were less likely to receive advice. Discussion. Results suggest that obese Mexican-Americans are insufficiently advised by health care providers regarding exercise and diet. Given the seriousness of obesity-related health risks and the increasing prevalence of overweight status and obesity among Mexican-Americans, it is vital that providers are involved in finding ways to effectively educate and/or treat overweight patients.