Despite our country’s overarching public health goal aimedat eliminating health disparities by th... more Despite our country’s overarching public health goal aimedat eliminating health disparities by the end of the decade, un-yielding health differentials on the basis of gender, race, geog-raphy, and ethnicity continue to cast a shadow over the attain-ment of this goal. Multiple sources of data provide evidencethat the Hispanic/Latino population is no stranger to the nowprolific literature that points to the persistence of health dis-parities for ethnic-racial groups in general and Hispanics inparticular.Population data from the last 2 US Censuses illustrate thedramatic increase of the Hispanic/Latino population during thelast 2 decades, rising from 14.6 million in 1980
International Journal of Public Health, Nov 9, 2018
Objectives-To examine whether tobacco initiation via e-cigarettes increases the likelihood of sub... more Objectives-To examine whether tobacco initiation via e-cigarettes increases the likelihood of subsequent tobacco use among a large representative sample of US adolescents. Methods-This study is a retrospective longitudinal analysis from a representative sample of US middle and high school students (n = 39,718) who completed the 2014 and 2015 National Youth Tobacco Survey. The adjusted odds ratios of lifetime and current use of tobacco use were estimated by logistic regression analysis while controlling for important socioecological factors associated with tobacco use. Results-E-cigarette initiators were more likely to report current use of cigarettes (AOR 2.7; 1.9-4.0, p < 0.001), cigars (AOR 1.7; 1.2-2.4, p < 0.01), or smokeless tobacco (AOR 3.1; 2.2-5.4, p < 0.001), and lifetime use of the same products as well. Also, lifetime and current use of ecigarettes significantly increased the likelihood of cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco use. Conclusions-Initiation of tobacco via e-cigarette, lifetime, and current use of e-cigarettes are associated with higher odds of lifetime and current use of cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco. Collectively this suggests e-cigarettes may lead to an increased use of tobacco among adolescents.
The prevalence of self-reported diabetes mellitus in a Mexican American sample population living ... more The prevalence of self-reported diabetes mellitus in a Mexican American sample population living in Hidalgo County in south Texas was examined along with risk for related sequelae. Data from a stratified random sample of 849 Mexican American men and women ages 45 and older were examined. A subsample of 193 diabetics was compared to 656 nondiabetics with respect to hospitalization, reasons for hospitalization, and other related medical conditions. The prevalence of self-reported diabetes for both men and women was 25.9%. Hospitalization rates for diabetics over a 1-year period and a 5-year period were significantly higher than nondiabetics. Hypertension, cardiac problems, amputations, kidney or urinary problems, eye problems, and joint and bone problems were significantly more common in the diabetics sample than in the nondiabetic sample. The data indicate that diabetes in Mexican Americans may be undertreated in south Texas.
policymakers alike to be aware of. Only by aggressively addressing this problem will the mental h... more policymakers alike to be aware of. Only by aggressively addressing this problem will the mental health needs of the elderly be appropriately met. Finally, there is a very interesting chapter on the elderly homeless mentally ill by Weeden, Hall, and Linehan. This is the first chapter that I have seen that specifically addresses this topic. It contains an excellent review of what we know about being homeless, mentally ill, and elderly, and considers the conceptual and methodological problems of research on the homeless. It also examines subpopulations of the homeless mentally ill, including the long-term psychiatric client who has grown old, elders impaired by dementia, and elderly victims of life-threatening crises. This chapter also critically examines servicedelivery systems to this particular group, and concludes with a list of interesting options for responding to the special needs of this population. In summary, this important book belongs in the libraries of all practitioners, policymakers, and administrators in the mental health field. It should also prove extremely valuable to graduate students who are seriously pursuing the profession of clinical geropsychology. The up-to-date and inclusive information in this book makes it an extremely valuable volume that will not be out of date for some time. The challenges and policy recommendations provided throughout will keep all of us busy for some time to come!
Objective. In 2015, only half (48%) of older adults in the United States (≥60 years) reported eng... more Objective. In 2015, only half (48%) of older adults in the United States (≥60 years) reported engaging in any kind of physical activity. Few studies examine the impact of evidence-based programs when adopted in communitybased settings. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of EnhanceFitness (EF) upto 12-months. Method. EF was offered to older adults in South Florida. A total of 222 EF classes were offered between October 2008 and December 2014. Program consisted of a 1-hour session held three times a week. Even though participation was required for 4 months, 1,295 participants continued the program for at least 1 year. Results. All participants showed significant improvement in outcome measures.
Journal of clinical and translational science, Mar 1, 2021
IMPACT: Working alongside news staff as community partners is feasible for community engagement t... more IMPACT: Working alongside news staff as community partners is feasible for community engagement to co-create a posthurricane health assessment and connect it to our academic health center's disaster response capacity. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Successful academic-community partnership in post-disaster response depends on shared understanding of impact. Community newspapers could provide valuable insight into health needs and inform strategic recovery plans. Our objective was to determine methodological feasibility of using newspaper stories to identify post-disaster needs. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Community-Based Participatory Research principles were applied to engage newspaper staff and conduct qualitative analysis of stories published in the weekly Port Aransas South Jetty newspaper, serving this small rural coastal community. Using directed content analysis, the team derived and validated constructs from Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Phases of Disaster models to create a codebook. Scientists and newspaper staff examined the codebook for congruency regarding interpretation and themes. With copyright permission to access online newspaper files, NVivo software was used to search for Hurricane Harvey-related terms (e.g., 'Harvey, tropical storm, flood, damage, volunteer'). Stories from 3 days post-Harvey to 6 months post-Harvey were examined and again at anniversary date. RESULTS/ ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The weekly South Jetty newspaper was published continuously from August 31, 2017, through the date our study ended, February 22, 2018. Analysis showed themes of the storm and community response to disaster at multiple levels. Harvey caused catastrophic flooding, destruction, on par with 2005 Hurricane Katrina as the costliest storm on record. In Port Aransas, 130 mph winds and a 12-foot storm surge damaged 90% of the buildings. Stories reflected Phases of Response: Pre-disaster, Impact, Heroic, Honeymoon, Disillusionment, and initial phases of Reconstruction and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Story: 'It's not just the physical part of Port Aransas that was hurt by the hurricane. Harvey also wounded the town's collective psyche. We've wept for our losses, then counted our blessings, then wept for our losses again.' DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Newspapers were a rich source of post-disaster data. Text and pictures were poignant. Thematic analysis identified stages of recovery. Working alongside news staff as community partners is feasible for community engagement to co-create a post-hurricane health assessment and connect it to our academic health center's disaster response capacity.
Epidemiological studies indicate that minority populations in the US-including African Americans,... more Epidemiological studies indicate that minority populations in the US-including African Americans, Native Americans and Mexican Americans-are particularly at risk for diabetes and that their complications are more frequent and severe. Using microdata from a 1994-1999 population based study of middle aged and older Mexican Americans in the Southwest, this study analyzes the impact of diabetes on the employment and earnings outcomes of adults 45 years of age and older. The empirical results from estimating maximum likelihood employment and earnings models suggest that diabetes leads to lower productivity and earnings for women but has no statistically significant impact on their employment probability. In the case of men, however, diabetes leads to a lower employment propensity but has no effect on earnings. Thus, the problems associated with this condition could lead to potential future financial difficulties particularly for high-risk populations in their later years.
Journal of Comparative Family Studies, Dec 1, 2001
This paper explored the migration processes and cross-cultural experiences of female Japanese set... more This paper explored the migration processes and cross-cultural experiences of female Japanese settlers in British society. The motivations of the women to migrate to Britain varied widely but were driven least by economic incentives. Many women moved on their own and of their own will in order to maximise their well-being and enhance their life chances. The Japanese social system, emphasising gender roles and family-orientation, was one of the strongest reasons for encouraging the women to seek alternative lifestyles. This paper also aimed the link with current issues facing an ageing society - in particular, the women’s views concerning their old age and factors influencing their decision-making processes. Their choice of residence in later life between Japan and Britain was likely to reflect their family relations and social networks as well as their employment history in both countries. Also, as they grew older in a foreign society, care issues were increasingly of their concern. The expectation for family support from their adult children who were brought up in British society were not great, reflecting the value of independence and the available social security systems and services. The paper concluded with various thoughts of how their ‘ethnic needs’ could be met in the host society. The study explored the effect of three social factors - immigration, ethnicity and religiosity on cohabitation and attitudes toward cohabitation, in Israel. Additionally, it examined the linkage between attitudes toward cohabitation and reported cohabiting behavior. Data was based on a national representative sample of 1,180 longterm Israeli residents and 870 immigrants from the Former Soviet Union. Immigration and religiosity were found to impact on behavior and attitudes regarding cohabitation,’ whereas ethnicity had no such effect. An interaction effect between immigration and ethnicity indicated that ethnicity has a stronger influence on migrant attitudes. Attitudes were found to have a mediating effect on the Impact of immigration and religiosity on cohabitation. Explanations for the findings are based on the divergence between the cultural contexts of both countries - Israel and the Former Soviet Union - and on immigration as a stressful life-event for the individual and his family.
This study reexamines the prevalent view of classical social theorist, Auguste Comte and contempo... more This study reexamines the prevalent view of classical social theorist, Auguste Comte and contemporary social theorist, Gerhard Lenski. Both social theorists are important figures in terms of social change and social development. Therefore, within context, the notion of social change theories, its relations and cause of social change are discussed, followed by an outline of the concepts of both theorists. Next, it deals with what the two perspectives share in common and compares the differences between them. The study revealed that the two perspectives are fundamentally different because Comte focused on the development of human thought while Lenski focused on social change and development as a result of technology. In this respect, the determinants of social change and development emerge from within society itself; the deepest and the most important disagreement lies between those who see the mental or spiritual evolution of society as the main driving force of history and those who see the role of technology as its root cause.
To compare the mental health and well-being of Mexican immigrants with native-born Mexican Americ... more To compare the mental health and well-being of Mexican immigrants with native-born Mexican Americans living in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Methods: A randomly stratified sample of 353 Hispanics aged 45 and older were interviewed. The immigrant group (n = 148) was compared with native-born Mexican Americans (n = 205). Results: The findings showed that the native-born group was not significantly different from the immigrant group on measures of depression, health status, life satisfaction, or self-esteem. The immigrant group was found to report significantly more stress than the Mexican American group. Income, age, gender, and acculturation were significant predictors of well-being, whereas immigration status and years of residency were not. Discussion: The well-being of Mexican immigrants in the United States is confounded by such variables as income, age, gender, and acculturation, along with various other contextual factors that characterize their life experiences in the United States.
Objectives. We examined disparities in health care use among US–Mexico border residents, with a f... more Objectives. We examined disparities in health care use among US–Mexico border residents, with a focus on the unique binational environment of the region, to determine factors that may influence health care use in Mexico.Methods. Data were from 2 waves of a population-based study of 1048 Latino residents of selected Texas border counties. Logistic regression models examined predictors of health insurance coverage. Results from these models were used to examine regional patterns of health care use.Results. Of the respondents younger than 65 years, 60% reported no health insurance coverage. The uninsured were 7 and 3 times more likely in waves 3 and 4, respectively, to use medical care in Mexico than were the insured. Preference for medical care in Mexico was an important predictor.Conclusions. For those who were chronically ill, old, poor, or burdened by the lengthy processing of their documents by immigration authorities, the United States provided the only source of health care. For some, Mexico may lessen the burden at the individual level, but it does not lessen the aggregate burden of providing highly priced care to the region's neediest. Health disparities will continue unless policies are enacted to expand health care accessibility in the region.
Despite our country’s overarching public health goal aimedat eliminating health disparities by th... more Despite our country’s overarching public health goal aimedat eliminating health disparities by the end of the decade, un-yielding health differentials on the basis of gender, race, geog-raphy, and ethnicity continue to cast a shadow over the attain-ment of this goal. Multiple sources of data provide evidencethat the Hispanic/Latino population is no stranger to the nowprolific literature that points to the persistence of health dis-parities for ethnic-racial groups in general and Hispanics inparticular.Population data from the last 2 US Censuses illustrate thedramatic increase of the Hispanic/Latino population during thelast 2 decades, rising from 14.6 million in 1980
International Journal of Public Health, Nov 9, 2018
Objectives-To examine whether tobacco initiation via e-cigarettes increases the likelihood of sub... more Objectives-To examine whether tobacco initiation via e-cigarettes increases the likelihood of subsequent tobacco use among a large representative sample of US adolescents. Methods-This study is a retrospective longitudinal analysis from a representative sample of US middle and high school students (n = 39,718) who completed the 2014 and 2015 National Youth Tobacco Survey. The adjusted odds ratios of lifetime and current use of tobacco use were estimated by logistic regression analysis while controlling for important socioecological factors associated with tobacco use. Results-E-cigarette initiators were more likely to report current use of cigarettes (AOR 2.7; 1.9-4.0, p < 0.001), cigars (AOR 1.7; 1.2-2.4, p < 0.01), or smokeless tobacco (AOR 3.1; 2.2-5.4, p < 0.001), and lifetime use of the same products as well. Also, lifetime and current use of ecigarettes significantly increased the likelihood of cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco use. Conclusions-Initiation of tobacco via e-cigarette, lifetime, and current use of e-cigarettes are associated with higher odds of lifetime and current use of cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco. Collectively this suggests e-cigarettes may lead to an increased use of tobacco among adolescents.
The prevalence of self-reported diabetes mellitus in a Mexican American sample population living ... more The prevalence of self-reported diabetes mellitus in a Mexican American sample population living in Hidalgo County in south Texas was examined along with risk for related sequelae. Data from a stratified random sample of 849 Mexican American men and women ages 45 and older were examined. A subsample of 193 diabetics was compared to 656 nondiabetics with respect to hospitalization, reasons for hospitalization, and other related medical conditions. The prevalence of self-reported diabetes for both men and women was 25.9%. Hospitalization rates for diabetics over a 1-year period and a 5-year period were significantly higher than nondiabetics. Hypertension, cardiac problems, amputations, kidney or urinary problems, eye problems, and joint and bone problems were significantly more common in the diabetics sample than in the nondiabetic sample. The data indicate that diabetes in Mexican Americans may be undertreated in south Texas.
policymakers alike to be aware of. Only by aggressively addressing this problem will the mental h... more policymakers alike to be aware of. Only by aggressively addressing this problem will the mental health needs of the elderly be appropriately met. Finally, there is a very interesting chapter on the elderly homeless mentally ill by Weeden, Hall, and Linehan. This is the first chapter that I have seen that specifically addresses this topic. It contains an excellent review of what we know about being homeless, mentally ill, and elderly, and considers the conceptual and methodological problems of research on the homeless. It also examines subpopulations of the homeless mentally ill, including the long-term psychiatric client who has grown old, elders impaired by dementia, and elderly victims of life-threatening crises. This chapter also critically examines servicedelivery systems to this particular group, and concludes with a list of interesting options for responding to the special needs of this population. In summary, this important book belongs in the libraries of all practitioners, policymakers, and administrators in the mental health field. It should also prove extremely valuable to graduate students who are seriously pursuing the profession of clinical geropsychology. The up-to-date and inclusive information in this book makes it an extremely valuable volume that will not be out of date for some time. The challenges and policy recommendations provided throughout will keep all of us busy for some time to come!
Objective. In 2015, only half (48%) of older adults in the United States (≥60 years) reported eng... more Objective. In 2015, only half (48%) of older adults in the United States (≥60 years) reported engaging in any kind of physical activity. Few studies examine the impact of evidence-based programs when adopted in communitybased settings. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of EnhanceFitness (EF) upto 12-months. Method. EF was offered to older adults in South Florida. A total of 222 EF classes were offered between October 2008 and December 2014. Program consisted of a 1-hour session held three times a week. Even though participation was required for 4 months, 1,295 participants continued the program for at least 1 year. Results. All participants showed significant improvement in outcome measures.
Journal of clinical and translational science, Mar 1, 2021
IMPACT: Working alongside news staff as community partners is feasible for community engagement t... more IMPACT: Working alongside news staff as community partners is feasible for community engagement to co-create a posthurricane health assessment and connect it to our academic health center's disaster response capacity. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Successful academic-community partnership in post-disaster response depends on shared understanding of impact. Community newspapers could provide valuable insight into health needs and inform strategic recovery plans. Our objective was to determine methodological feasibility of using newspaper stories to identify post-disaster needs. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Community-Based Participatory Research principles were applied to engage newspaper staff and conduct qualitative analysis of stories published in the weekly Port Aransas South Jetty newspaper, serving this small rural coastal community. Using directed content analysis, the team derived and validated constructs from Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Phases of Disaster models to create a codebook. Scientists and newspaper staff examined the codebook for congruency regarding interpretation and themes. With copyright permission to access online newspaper files, NVivo software was used to search for Hurricane Harvey-related terms (e.g., 'Harvey, tropical storm, flood, damage, volunteer'). Stories from 3 days post-Harvey to 6 months post-Harvey were examined and again at anniversary date. RESULTS/ ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The weekly South Jetty newspaper was published continuously from August 31, 2017, through the date our study ended, February 22, 2018. Analysis showed themes of the storm and community response to disaster at multiple levels. Harvey caused catastrophic flooding, destruction, on par with 2005 Hurricane Katrina as the costliest storm on record. In Port Aransas, 130 mph winds and a 12-foot storm surge damaged 90% of the buildings. Stories reflected Phases of Response: Pre-disaster, Impact, Heroic, Honeymoon, Disillusionment, and initial phases of Reconstruction and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Story: 'It's not just the physical part of Port Aransas that was hurt by the hurricane. Harvey also wounded the town's collective psyche. We've wept for our losses, then counted our blessings, then wept for our losses again.' DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Newspapers were a rich source of post-disaster data. Text and pictures were poignant. Thematic analysis identified stages of recovery. Working alongside news staff as community partners is feasible for community engagement to co-create a post-hurricane health assessment and connect it to our academic health center's disaster response capacity.
Epidemiological studies indicate that minority populations in the US-including African Americans,... more Epidemiological studies indicate that minority populations in the US-including African Americans, Native Americans and Mexican Americans-are particularly at risk for diabetes and that their complications are more frequent and severe. Using microdata from a 1994-1999 population based study of middle aged and older Mexican Americans in the Southwest, this study analyzes the impact of diabetes on the employment and earnings outcomes of adults 45 years of age and older. The empirical results from estimating maximum likelihood employment and earnings models suggest that diabetes leads to lower productivity and earnings for women but has no statistically significant impact on their employment probability. In the case of men, however, diabetes leads to a lower employment propensity but has no effect on earnings. Thus, the problems associated with this condition could lead to potential future financial difficulties particularly for high-risk populations in their later years.
Journal of Comparative Family Studies, Dec 1, 2001
This paper explored the migration processes and cross-cultural experiences of female Japanese set... more This paper explored the migration processes and cross-cultural experiences of female Japanese settlers in British society. The motivations of the women to migrate to Britain varied widely but were driven least by economic incentives. Many women moved on their own and of their own will in order to maximise their well-being and enhance their life chances. The Japanese social system, emphasising gender roles and family-orientation, was one of the strongest reasons for encouraging the women to seek alternative lifestyles. This paper also aimed the link with current issues facing an ageing society - in particular, the women’s views concerning their old age and factors influencing their decision-making processes. Their choice of residence in later life between Japan and Britain was likely to reflect their family relations and social networks as well as their employment history in both countries. Also, as they grew older in a foreign society, care issues were increasingly of their concern. The expectation for family support from their adult children who were brought up in British society were not great, reflecting the value of independence and the available social security systems and services. The paper concluded with various thoughts of how their ‘ethnic needs’ could be met in the host society. The study explored the effect of three social factors - immigration, ethnicity and religiosity on cohabitation and attitudes toward cohabitation, in Israel. Additionally, it examined the linkage between attitudes toward cohabitation and reported cohabiting behavior. Data was based on a national representative sample of 1,180 longterm Israeli residents and 870 immigrants from the Former Soviet Union. Immigration and religiosity were found to impact on behavior and attitudes regarding cohabitation,’ whereas ethnicity had no such effect. An interaction effect between immigration and ethnicity indicated that ethnicity has a stronger influence on migrant attitudes. Attitudes were found to have a mediating effect on the Impact of immigration and religiosity on cohabitation. Explanations for the findings are based on the divergence between the cultural contexts of both countries - Israel and the Former Soviet Union - and on immigration as a stressful life-event for the individual and his family.
This study reexamines the prevalent view of classical social theorist, Auguste Comte and contempo... more This study reexamines the prevalent view of classical social theorist, Auguste Comte and contemporary social theorist, Gerhard Lenski. Both social theorists are important figures in terms of social change and social development. Therefore, within context, the notion of social change theories, its relations and cause of social change are discussed, followed by an outline of the concepts of both theorists. Next, it deals with what the two perspectives share in common and compares the differences between them. The study revealed that the two perspectives are fundamentally different because Comte focused on the development of human thought while Lenski focused on social change and development as a result of technology. In this respect, the determinants of social change and development emerge from within society itself; the deepest and the most important disagreement lies between those who see the mental or spiritual evolution of society as the main driving force of history and those who see the role of technology as its root cause.
To compare the mental health and well-being of Mexican immigrants with native-born Mexican Americ... more To compare the mental health and well-being of Mexican immigrants with native-born Mexican Americans living in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Methods: A randomly stratified sample of 353 Hispanics aged 45 and older were interviewed. The immigrant group (n = 148) was compared with native-born Mexican Americans (n = 205). Results: The findings showed that the native-born group was not significantly different from the immigrant group on measures of depression, health status, life satisfaction, or self-esteem. The immigrant group was found to report significantly more stress than the Mexican American group. Income, age, gender, and acculturation were significant predictors of well-being, whereas immigration status and years of residency were not. Discussion: The well-being of Mexican immigrants in the United States is confounded by such variables as income, age, gender, and acculturation, along with various other contextual factors that characterize their life experiences in the United States.
Objectives. We examined disparities in health care use among US–Mexico border residents, with a f... more Objectives. We examined disparities in health care use among US–Mexico border residents, with a focus on the unique binational environment of the region, to determine factors that may influence health care use in Mexico.Methods. Data were from 2 waves of a population-based study of 1048 Latino residents of selected Texas border counties. Logistic regression models examined predictors of health insurance coverage. Results from these models were used to examine regional patterns of health care use.Results. Of the respondents younger than 65 years, 60% reported no health insurance coverage. The uninsured were 7 and 3 times more likely in waves 3 and 4, respectively, to use medical care in Mexico than were the insured. Preference for medical care in Mexico was an important predictor.Conclusions. For those who were chronically ill, old, poor, or burdened by the lengthy processing of their documents by immigration authorities, the United States provided the only source of health care. For some, Mexico may lessen the burden at the individual level, but it does not lessen the aggregate burden of providing highly priced care to the region's neediest. Health disparities will continue unless policies are enacted to expand health care accessibility in the region.
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Papers by Elena Bastida