RESUMO

This study examines the complex interplay of genetic and environmental interactions that shape chronic illness risk. Evidence is mounting for the role of genetic expression and the immune response in the pathogenesis of chronic disease. In the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, where 90% of the population is Mexican American, chronic illnesses (including obesity, diabetes, nonalcoholic liver disease, and depression) are reaching epidemic proportions. This study leverages an ongoing family study of the genetic determinants of risk for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and depression in a Mexican American population. Data collected included blood pressure, BMI, hepatic transaminases, HbA1c, depression (BDI-II), acculturation/marginalization (ARSMA-II), and liver health as assessed by elastography. Heritability and genotype-by-environment (G×E) interactions were analyzed, focusing on the marginalization/separation measure of the ARSMA-II. Significant heritabilities were found for traits such as HbA1c (h2 = 0.52), marginalization (h2 = 0.30), AST (h2 = 0.25), ALT (h2 = 0.41), and BMI (h2 = 0.55). Genotype-by-environment interactions were significant for HbA1c, AST/ALT ratio, BDI-II, and CAP, indicating that genetic factors interact with marginalization to influence these traits. This study found that acculturation stress exacerbates the genetic response to chronic illness. These findings underscore the importance of considering G×E interactions in understanding disease susceptibility and may inform targeted interventions for at-risk populations. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying molecular pathways and replicate these findings in diverse populations.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Objetivo: Identificar la capacidad predictiva de variables demográficas y psicosociales en el autorreporte de la salud física de migrantes colombianos y peruanos en Chile. Material y Método: Diseño no experimental de tipo transversal, correlacional, con muestreo intencional. Participaron 853 inmigrantes (51,7% colombianos y 48,3% peruanos; 51% mujeres) entre 18 a 71 años. Se evaluó el autorreporte del estado de salud física, variables sociodemográficas, síntomas ansiosos y depresivos, estrés por aculturación, apoyo social percibido, autoestima individual, entre otros, los que fueron analizados mediante regresión múltiple. Resultados: La población colombiana reportó un mejor estado de salud física. En ambos grupos, los síntomas ansiosos y depresivos fueron importantes predictores del estado de salud física. Otras variables predictivas fueron en peruanos: ingresos económicos, distancia con el país origen y años de permanencia en Chile, en tanto en colombianos: autoestima individual, discriminación y rechazo, y estado de salud actual en comparación con el que tenían en su país. En colombianos, el modelo explica el 14,7% de la varianza, en peruanos un 28,9%. Conclusiones: En ambas poblaciones los síntomas ansiosos y depresivos, y el estrés por aculturación resultaron ser importantes predictores del autorreporte de la salud física, aportando evidencia a que el proceso migratorio afecta el estado de salud mental del migrante y este, a su vez, puede afectar su estado de salud física.

Objective: To identify the predictive capacity of demographic and psychosocial variables in the self-reported physical health of Colombian and Peruvian migrants in Chile. Materials and Methods: Non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational design using intentional sampling. A total of 853 immigrants (51.7% Colombians and 48.3% Peruvians; 51% women) between 18 and 71 years of age participated. Self-reported physical health status, sociodemographic variables, anxious and depressive symptoms, acculturation stress, perceived social support, individual self-esteem, among others, were evaluated and analyzed using multiple regression. Results: The Colombian population reported a better state of physical health. In both groups, anxious and depressive symptoms were important predictors of the physical health status. Other predictive variables were among Peruvians: income, distance from country of origin and years of permanence in Chile, while among Colombians: individual self-esteem, discrimination and rejection, and current health status compared to the one they had in their country. Among Colombians, the model explains 14.7% of the variance, whereas among Peruvians it accounts for 28.9%. Conclusions: In both populations, anxious and depressive symptoms, as well as acculturation stress turned out to be important predictors of self-reported physical health, providing evidence that the migratory process affects the migrant's mental health status, and this in turn can affect their physical health status.

Objetivo: Identificar a capacidade preditiva das variáveis demográficas e psicossociais na saúde física autorreferida de migrantes colombianos e peruanos no Chile. Material e Método: Desenho não experimental, transversal e correlacional com amostragem intencional. Participaram 853 imigrantes (51,7% colombianos e 48,3% peruanos; 51% mulheres) entre 18 e 71 anos. O estado de saúde física autorreferido, variáveis sociodemográficas, sintomas ansiosos e depressivos, estresse de aculturação, apoio social percebido, auto-estima individual, entre outros, foram avaliados e analisados por meio de regressão múltipla. Resultados: A população colombiana relatou um melhor estado de saúde física. Em ambos os grupos, sintomas ansiosos e depressivos foram importantes preditores do estado de saúde física. Outras variáveis preditoras foram entre os peruanos: renda económica, distância do país de origem e anos de permanência no Chile, enquanto nos colombianos: auto-estima individual, discriminação e rejeição, e estado de saúde atual em comparação ao que tinham em seu país. Entre os colombianos, o modelo explica 14,7% da variância, entre os peruanos ele representa 28,9%. Conclusões: Em ambas as populações, os sintomas ansiosos e depressivos e o estresse de aculturação revelaram-se importantes preditores da saúde física autorreferida, evidenciando que o processo migratório afeta o estado de saúde mental do migrante, e este, por sua vez, pode afetar seu estado de saúde física.

RESUMO

Migration in Chile has increased exponentially in recent years, with education being one of the main focuses of attention in this cultural transformation. Integration and social competence in the migrant population are determined by several factors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of resilience and acculturation stress on the levels of integration and social competence in migrant students in Northern Chile. In total, 292 school children of both genders aged 8 to 18, from the fourth grade to senior year of high school, participated in the investigation. A subscale of the Child and Adolescent Assessment System (Sistema de evaluación de niños y adolescentes SENA) was used to assess integration and social competence. Additionally, the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-12) and the Acculturation Stress Source Scale (FEAC) were used. The results show that integration and social competence have statistically significant and direct associations with resilience (p < 0.001) and indirect associations with acculturation stress (p = 0.009). Both constructs could be defined as protection and risk factors, respectively, and should be considered in educational contexts to favor adaptation in the integration of migrant children and adolescents.

Assuntos

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Acculturation stress is associated with poorer physical and mental health and a lower level of psychological well-being. The causes of acculturation stress are diverse, but most are similar in the migrant population. Despite the importance of evaluating this variable, few studies have reported culturally adapted and validated instruments for specific populations. Based on this, the aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a short scale for the evaluation of acculturation stress (EBEA). METHODS: Two studies were conducted, involving 1725 first-generation Colombian and Peruvian migrants living in Chile, between the ages of 18 and 60 years. In addition to the EBEA and as evidence of validity, the Beck Anxiety Scale and the WHOQOL-BREF psychological health domain were applied. A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out, and the reliability and nomological validity were evaluated. RESULTS: The results in both studies indicated that the scale presents a factorial structure of three dimensions: (a) the stress derived from the preparation and departure from the country of origin, (b) the stress produced by socioeconomic concerns in the host country, and (c) the tensions typical of adaptation to sociocultural changes or Chilean society. The reliability coefficients and the analysis of their nomological validity were very good. CONCLUSIONS: The EBEA is a measure that offers quick, useful screening for researchers who need a short measure for research among migrants. This tool contributes to the work of education, prevention, and intervention in the field of general health and migrants' mental health.

RESUMO

Immigration changes the daily dynamics of migrant individuals and communities, as individuals confront new cultures and environments, including new foods and eating styles. Consequent influences on eating behaviors comprise an individual's actions in feeding themself that are conditioned by biological, social, cultural, and psychological factors. Mental health indicators such as anxiety and stress reflect negative impacts of acculturation on migrants' health, but ethnic identity is potentially protective. However, the relationship between these mental health indicators and immigrant populations' eating behaviors have not been addressed. Our objective was to analyze the mediating effects of acculturation stress and ethnic identity on the relationship between anxiety and three dimensions of eating behaviors in Colombian migrants living in Chile. A total of 959 Colombian immigrants participated. Ethnic identity only partially mediated the effect of emotional eating. The other two dimensions had direct effects but no mediating effects. Conversely, acculturation stress and emotional eating partially mediated restrained eating while external intake had a direct effect but no mediation. Anxiety had significant direct effects with all the dimensions analyzed. Ethnic identity score related to a protective effect between anxiety and emotional eating. Stress of acculturation, conversely, was a risk factor in the relationship between anxiety, emotional eating, and restrained eating.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Abstract Background: Acculturation stress is associated with poorer physical and mental health and a lower level of psychological well-being. The causes of acculturation stress are diverse, but most are similar in the migrant population. Despite the importance of evaluating this variable, few studies have reported culturally adapted and validated instruments for specific populations. Based on this, the aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a short scale for the evaluation of acculturation stress (EBEA). Methods: Two studies were conducted, involving 1725 first-generation Colombian and Peruvian migrants living in Chile, between the ages of 18 and 60 years. In addition to the EBEA and as evidence of validity, the Beck Anxiety Scale and the WHOQOL-BREF psychological health domain were applied. A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out, and the reliability and nomological validity were evaluated. Results: The results in both studies indicated that the scale presents a factorial structure of three dimensions: (a) the stress derived from the preparation and departure from the country of origin, (b) the stress produced by socioeconomic concerns in the host country, and (c) the tensions typical of adaptation to sociocultural changes or Chilean society. The reliability coefficients and the analysis of their nomological validity were very good. Conclusions: The EBEA is a measure that offers quick, useful screening for researchers who need a short measure for research among migrants. This tool contributes to the work of education, prevention, and intervention in the field of general health and migrants' mental health.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Resumen La migración en Chile ha trascendido enormemente, siendo la educación uno de los principales focos de atención en miras de la transformación. El objetivo de este estudio es describir la discriminación percibida por escolares migrantes de la ciudad de Arica al Norte de Chile, analizando además la relación entre esta última y el estrés por aculturación. Participaron 678 estudiantes de ambos sexos entre Cuarto Básico a Cuarto Medio, entre los 8 y 19 años. Se utilizó la Escala de Discriminación en la Vida Cotidiana (eds) y la Escala de fuentes de estrés por aculturación (feac). Se encontraron diferencias significativas en la discriminación percibida entre escolares migrantes y no migrantes con una puntuación más alta en los migrantes en todas las edades. Se observa también una relación significativa entre discriminación percibida y estrés por aculturación. Se discuten los resultados y sus implicaciones, para el mejoramiento políticas públicas en el ámbito escolar.

Abstract Migration in Chile has transcended enormously, with education being one of the main focuses of attention in the face of transformation. The aim of this study is to describe the perceived discrimination by migrant school students from the city of Arica in the North of Chile, also analyzing the relationship between the latter and acculturation stress. 678 schoolchildren of both sexes participated between the Fourth grade to senior year at High School, with ages between 8 and 19. The Everyday Discrimination Scale (eds) and the Acculturation Stress Source Scale (feac) were used. Significant differences were found in perceived discrimination between migrant and non-migrant schoolchildren with a higher score among migrants at all ages. There is also a significant relationship between perceived discrimination and acculturation stress. The results and their implications are discussed, for the improvement of public policies in the school environment.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Menores aymara han experimentado un proceso migratorio importante durante las últimas décadas, sin embargo, se han desarrollado escasos estudios en población infantil perteneciente a esta etnia. El objetivo de esta investigación es evaluar y comparar las estrategias de afrontamiento utilizado por niños y niñas Aymara y no Aymara. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 685 niños/as entre 9 y 15 años de escuelas municipales y colegios particular subvencionados de la ciudad de Arica. Los resultados muestran la inexistencia de diferencias poblacionales entre niños/as aymara y no aymara en relación a los problemas experimentados (pχ2> .05), el uso de estrategias de afrontamiento utilizadas (pt> .05) y la eficacia de estas últimas (pt> .05). Se concluye que los niños/as pertenecientes a la etnia estarían logrando adecuados mecanismos de afrontamiento en contextos urbanos.

Aymara Childrens have experienced significant migration process over the past decades, however, few studies have been developed in children belonging to this ethnic group. In this reserch, the objective is to evaluate and compare the coping strategies used by Aymara and not Aymara Children. The sample consisted of 685 boys / girls aged 9 and 15 years of Municipal Schools and Private Schools Funded by the city of Arica. The results show the absence of differences population between Aymara and not Aymara boys and girls, in relation to problems experienced (pχ2> .05), the use of coping strategies used (pt> .05) and the effectiveness of the latter (pt > .05). We can conclude that children, as belonging to the ethnic group, are achieving adequate coping mechanisms in urban contexts.

Assuntos

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: Mexican Americans comprise one of the most rapidly growing populations in the U.S. and within this population the process of acculturation has been suggested to be associated with some mental health problems. This study sought to ascertain quantitative information indexing acculturation stress and its association with mental health disorders in a select community sample of Mexican Americans. METHODS: Demographic information, DSM-III-R diagnoses, and information on cultural identity and acculturation stress were obtained from 240 Mexican American young adults that were recruited by fliers and were residing in selected areas of San Diego. RESULTS: No associations were found between measures of cultural identification and lifetime diagnoses of drug or alcohol dependence, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders or antisocial personality disorder/conduct disorder in this sample of Mexican American young adults. However, lifetime diagnoses of alcohol dependence, substance dependence, and anxiety disorders were associated with elevations in acculturation stress. CONCLUSION: Quantitative measures of acculturation stress, but not cultural identity per se, were found to be significantly associated with substance dependence and anxiety disorders in this select population of Mexican American young adults. These data may be helpful in designing prevention and intervention programs for this high risk population.