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Defining and measuring acculturation: A systematic review of public health studies with Hispanic populations in the United States

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  • Thomson, Maria D.
  • Hoffman-Goetz, Laurie

Abstract

In this systematic review we sought to identify how the public health literature focusing on Hispanic populations in the United States defined and measured the concept of acculturation. A review of 134 studies found considerable variation in the definition and measurement of this construct. The ten acculturation scales used provided little theoretical orientation. It was unclear the extent to which acculturative changes in attitudes, beliefs and behaviors were captured by current measurement tools, as these primarily measure linguistic elements. We suggest future research should refine existing tools, determine their validity and us efulness across ethnic and subethnic groups, and identify which aspects of acculturation these scales and indices reliably measure. Recommendations for use of acculturation instruments in public health practice with Hispanic populations are included.

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  • Thomson, Maria D. & Hoffman-Goetz, Laurie, 2009. "Defining and measuring acculturation: A systematic review of public health studies with Hispanic populations in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 983-991, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:69:y:2009:i:7:p:983-991
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    5. 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.
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    8. Fox, Molly & Thayer, Zaneta & Wadhwa, Pathik D., 2017. "Assessment of acculturation in minority health research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 123-132.
    9. Gonzalez, Christopher J. & Copeland, Molly & Shapiro, Martin F. & Moody, James, 2023. "Associations of peer generational status on adolescent weight across Hispanic immigrant generations: A social network analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
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    11. Lopez-Class, Maria & Castro, Felipe González & Ramirez, Amelie G., 2011. "Conceptions of acculturation: A review and statement of critical issues," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(9), pages 1555-1562, May.
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    13. Viruell-Fuentes, Edna A. & Miranda, Patricia Y. & Abdulrahim, Sawsan, 2012. "More than culture: Structural racism, intersectionality theory, and immigrant health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2099-2106.
    14. Oh, Hyunsung & Jeong, Chung Hyeon, 2017. "Korean immigrants don't buy health insurance: The influences of culture on self-employed Korean immigrants focusing on structure and functions of social networks," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 194-201.
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    16. Lilian G. Perez & John M. Ruiz & David Berrigan, 2019. "Neighborhood Environment Perceptions among Latinos in the U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-13, August.

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