Acculturation and family functioning are related to health risks among pregnant Mexican American women

Behav Med. 2001 Summer;27(2):62-70. doi: 10.1080/08964280109595772.

Abstract

The authors examined the independent and interactive effects of acculturation status and family cohesiveness on a series of psychosocial and medical risk factors of pregnancy among 500 women of Mexican origin. In general, both higher and lower levels of acculturation produced positive or negative psychosocial and healthcare consequences, and the operative relationships depended heavily on the particular outcome chosen. Higher levels of family cohesiveness tended to foster the most constructive health and psychosocial outcomes. However, in some circumstances higher levels of family cohesiveness resulted in less coping and a lower quality of prenatal care for less acculturated women. An important implication of this study is that psychosocial and health information can be obtained through assessments that identify different subgroups of Mexican American women and depend on women's level of acculturation and family cohesiveness. Culturally competent health practitioners or clinicians can conduct these assessments in a prenatal healthcare setting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acculturation*
  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Family / psychology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Mexico / ethnology
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Pregnancy / psychology*
  • Prenatal Care / standards
  • Social Support
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States / epidemiology