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Africans Who Arrive in the United States before 20 Years of Age Maintain Both Cardiometabolic Health and Cultural Identity: Insight from the Africans in America Study

Author

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  • Elyssa M. Shoup

    (Section on Ethnicity and Health, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
    Co-first authors and contributed equally.)

  • Thomas Hormenu

    (Section on Ethnicity and Health, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
    Co-first authors and contributed equally.)

  • Nana H. Osei-Tutu

    (Section on Ethnicity and Health, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA)

  • M. C. Sage Ishimwe

    (Section on Ethnicity and Health, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
    National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
    Institute of Global Health Equity Research, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali 6955, Rwanda)

  • Arielle C. Patterson

    (Section on Ethnicity and Health, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA)

  • Christopher W. DuBose

    (Section on Ethnicity and Health, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA)

  • Annemarie Wentzel

    (Section on Ethnicity and Health, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA)

  • Margrethe F. Horlyck-Romanovsky

    (Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, New York, NY 11210, USA)

  • Anne E. Sumner

    (Section on Ethnicity and Health, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
    National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA)

Abstract

The overall consensus is that foreign-born adults who come to America age < 20 y achieve economic success but develop adverse behaviors (smoking and drinking) that lead to worse cardiometabolic health than immigrants who arrive age ≥ 20 y. Whether age of immigration affects the health of African-born Blacks living in America is unknown. Our goals were to examine cultural identity, behavior, and socioeconomic factors and determine if differences exist in the cardiometabolic health of Africans who immigrated to America before and after age 20 y. Of the 482 enrollees (age: 38 ± 1 (mean ± SE), range: 20–65 y) in the Africans in America cohort, 23% (111/482) arrived age < 20 y, and 77% (371/482) arrived age ≥ 20 y. Independent of francophone status or African region of origin, Africans who immigrated age < 20 y had similar or better cardiometabolic health than Africans who immigrated age ≥ 20 y. The majority of Africans who immigrated age < 20 y identified as African, had African-born spouses, exercised, did not adopt adverse health behaviors, and actualized early life migration advantages, such as an American university education. Due to maintenance of cultural identity and actualization of opportunities in America, cardiometabolic health may be protected in Africans who immigrate before age 20. In short, immigrant health research must be cognizant of the diversity within the foreign-born community and age of immigration.

Suggested Citation

  • Elyssa M. Shoup & Thomas Hormenu & Nana H. Osei-Tutu & M. C. Sage Ishimwe & Arielle C. Patterson & Christopher W. DuBose & Annemarie Wentzel & Margrethe F. Horlyck-Romanovsky & Anne E. Sumner, 2020. "Africans Who Arrive in the United States before 20 Years of Age Maintain Both Cardiometabolic Health and Cultural Identity: Insight from the Africans in America Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-14, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:24:p:9405-:d:462528
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zoe C. Waldman & Blayne R. Schenk & Marie Grace Duhuze Karera & Arielle C. Patterson & Thomas Hormenu & Lilian S. Mabundo & Christopher W. DuBose & Ram Jagannathan & Peter L. Whitesell & Annemarie Wen, 2022. "Sleep and Economic Status Are Linked to Daily Life Stress in African-Born Blacks Living in America," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, February.

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