The relationship between psychosocial status, acculturation and country of origin in mid-life Hispanic women: data from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

Abstract

Method To test the hypothesis that psychosocial symptomatology differs by country of origin and acculturation among Hispanic women, we examined 419 women, aged 42–52 years at baseline, enrolled in the New Jersey site of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Women were categorized into six groups: Central (CA, n = 29) or South American (SA, n = 106), Puerto Rican (PR, n = 56), Dominican (D, n = 42), Cuban (Cu, n = 44) and non-Hispanic Caucasian (NHC, n = 142). Acculturation, depressive symptoms, hostility/cynicism, mistreatment/discrimination, sleep quality, social support, and perceived stress were assessed at baseline. Physical functioning, trait anxiety and anger were assessed at the fourth annual follow-up. Comparisons between Hispanic and non-Hispanic Caucasians used χ2, t test or nonparametric alternatives; ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis testing examined differences among the five Hispanic sub-groups. Multivariable regression models used PR women as the reference group. Results Hispanic women were overall less educated, less acculturated (p < 0.001 for both) and reported more depressive symptoms, cynicism, perceived stress, and less mistreatment/discrimination than NHCs. Along with D women, PR women reported worse sleep than Cu women (p < 0.01) and more trait anxiety than SA and Cu women (p < 0.01). Yet, PR women were most acculturated (21.4% highly acculturated vs. CA (0.0%), D (4.8%), SA (4.8%) and Cu (2.3%) women; p < 0.001). In regression models, PR women reported depressive symptoms more frequently than D, Cu, or SA women, and reported trait anxiety more frequently than Cu or SA women. Greater acculturation was associated with more favorable psychosocial status, but PR ethnicity was negatively related to psychosocial status. Conclusion Psychosocial symptomatology among Hispanic women differs by country of origin and the relatively adverse profile of Puerto Rican women is not explained by acculturation.

The SWAN Song: Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation’s Recurring Themes

“…Within the group of Hispanic women, there is also evidence of variation. Puerto Rican women had the highest rate of metabolic syndrome, anxiety and depression 5,12 and trouble sleeping 11 compared to other Hispanic women, whereas Central American women reported more frequent vasomotor symptoms than other subgroups 11 . This was despite the fact that the Puerto Rican participants in SWAN were more likely to report higher acculturation 12 .…”

Factors associated with sleep disturbance in women of Mexican descent

“…Two other studies (Hale & Rivera-Fuentes, 2009; Green et al, 2010) linked acculturation with sleep problems among Latino adults, but no other sleep studies have included acculturation or personal attributes such as low sense of resilience or mastery in relation to poverty, immigration, or exposure to trauma. Thus, our ability to interpret these results is limited.…”

“…Almost one quarter of all US Latinos live in poverty (Ramirez & de la Cruz, 2002). A few sleep studies done in the US have included Latinas (Baker, Wolfson, & Lee, 2009; Caldwell & Redeker, 2009; Green et al, 2010; Troxel, Buysse, Hall, & Matthews, 2009). However, only one considered poverty specifically among Mexican American women (Hale, Do, et al, 2009) and only one examined the effect of acculturation or immigration on sleep (Hale & Rivero-Fuentes, 2009).…”

Religion, Spirituality, Social Support, and Perceived Stress in Pregnant and Postpartum Hispanic Women

“…There is contradictory evidence about the effects of acculturation on the well‐being of Latinos in the United States. Green et al (2010) reported that greater acculturation was associated with improved psychosocial well‐being, and Johnson, Carroll, Fulda, Cardarelli, and Cardarelli (2010) found that greater acculturation was associated with better self‐rated health. González and González (2008) reported higher levels of depressive symptoms among Mexican American adults who were less acculturated.…”