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A simple language-based acculturation scale for Mexican Americans: Validation and application to health care research

Author

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  • Deyo, R.A.
  • Diehl, A.K.
  • Hazuda, H.
  • Stern, M.P.

Abstract

A simple scale for quantifying English use among Mexican Americans was constructed from four brief questions which proved to have excellent scaling characteristics by Guttman Scalogram Analysis in two independent data sets. Construct validity was established by significant asociations of the scale with ethnicity, place of birth, generation within the United States, and type of neighborhood. Highly significant associations were found between scale scores and use of oral contraceptives, parity, 'fatalism' regarding health, and attitudes toward folk healers. These associations remained significant (though weak) after controlling for education and family income. The language scale thus appears to be reliable and valid, to be capable of distinguishing meaningful subsets among the Mexican American population, and to be applicable to health care investigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Deyo, R.A. & Diehl, A.K. & Hazuda, H. & Stern, M.P., 1985. "A simple language-based acculturation scale for Mexican Americans: Validation and application to health care research," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 75(1), pages 51-55.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.75.1.51_0
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.75.1.51
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    Cited by:

    1. Colleen L. Delaney & Kim Spaccarotella & Virginia Quick & Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, 2021. "A Comparison of Weight-Related Behaviors of Hispanic Mothers and Children by Acculturation Level," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Sunmin Lee & Allison H O’Neill & Emily S Ihara & David H Chae, 2013. "Change in Self-Reported Health Status among Immigrants in the United States: Associations with Measures of Acculturation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(10), pages 1-1, October.
    3. Abdulrahim, Sawsan & Baker, Wayne, 2009. "Differences in self-rated health by immigrant status and language preference among Arab Americans in the Detroit Metropolitan Area," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(12), pages 2097-2103, June.
    4. Harley, Kim & Eskenazi, Brenda, 2006. "Time in the United States, social support and health behaviors during pregnancy among women of Mexican descent," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(12), pages 3048-3061, June.
    5. Branden B. Johnson, 2004. "Arguments for Testing Ethnic Identity and Acculturation as Factors in Risk Judgments," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(5), pages 1279-1287, October.

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