Immigrant generation and physical activity among Mexican, Chinese & Filipino adults in the U.S.

Abstract

Migrant studies of physical activity (PA) can provide insight into the prevention of chronic disease. It is unclear, however, whether PA increases or decreases the longer migrants live in their host country. In the US, studies on immigrants' length of residence in the US and PA are inconclusive and many studies do not adequately consider the role of socioeconomic status (SES). Using California data, we examine relationships between immigrant generation and physical activity (PA) among Mexican, Chinese and Filipino adults, who represent the three largest immigrant groups in the US, and the extent to which the relationships are confounded by SES. Data from the 2000 US Census was linked with data on adults 18 years and older from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey. PA was measured in three different domains: leisure time (LTPA), non-leisure time (NLTPA) and any PA. Logistic regression was used to examine whether a wide range of SES factors, measured at the respondent and neighborhood levels, influenced the relationship between immigrant generation and PA in all domains and in different ethnic origin groups.Generation was significantly associated with LTPA among Mexican and Chinese adults and with NLTPA among all 3 ethnic origin groups; however the nature of the relationships varied. After adjusting for individual and neighborhood SES factors, a positive association between generation and LTPA remained among Mexican adults, and negative association between generation and NLTPA remained among Chinese and Filipino adults. These results underscore the importance of comparative studies of immigrant generation and PA and consideration of SES factors to identify pathways linking generation to PA. In the context of increasing rates of chronic disease, the study of transitions in PA among immigrants will continue to be critical to promoting the public health of diverse populations in countries such as the US.

A Systematic Literature Review of Sport and Physical Activity Participation in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Migrant Populations

“…Specifically, a longer time in the country (10yrs +) [39,40], later generations (being born and having parents born in the new country) [41] and citizenship in the new country [42] also suggested an association with higher participation rates. Studies that evaluated reasons for immigration found that refugee populations suffered post-traumatic stress and were not considering or actively participating in physical activity [43,44] .…”

Immigrant Generation and Diabetes Risk Among Mexican Americans: The Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging

“…23–27,37,48,86,87 This evidence from the health literature is not surprising given the heterogeneity of acculturation and assimilation processes in US immigrants, which scholars of migration have described. 88 Our study adds to the evidence on the adverse associations between accumulating exposure to US environment and diabetes risk and other health indicators in immigrants to the United States.…”

“…We classified a foreign-born respondent as a first-generation immigrant and a US-born respondent with at least 1 foreign-born parent as second generation; if the respondent and both parents were born in the United States, we classified him or her as third generation. 47,48 …”

Novel Considerations about Diabetes Management Strategies in Chinese Immigrants in America: Possible Corollaries of the Use of Traditional Chinese Medicines

“…It is well known that upon arrival to the US, immigrants are often healthier that those born in the US with lower body mass indexes, higher fruit and vegetable consumptions, and higher levels of certain physical activities [68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75]. An explanation for these health advantages in first generation immigrants is their maintenance of the cultural beliefs stemming from their country of origin.…”