Health and Young Adulthood: Does Immigrant Generational Status Matter?

A substantial body of research in international migration focuses on the “immigrant health paradox” and the health benefits immigrants may experience because of it. Less examined are the health outcomes of immigrants’ children and later generations. Will the protective health benefit apply to child migrants and the children of immigrants? Will it endure as they transition to adulthood? Using two waves of data from the Na-tional Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, I examine the differences in health out-comes among young immigrants (1.5 generation), children of immigrants (2nd genera-tion), and native-born adolescents with native-born parents (3rd generation+). Self-reported health serves to measure health outcomes. I find that both Hispanic respon-dents and Hispanic second-generation respondents are more likely to report poor health.Un important organisme de recherche dans le domaine de l’immigration internationale s’intéresse au “paradoxe de la santé des immigrants” et aux avantages que les immigrants peuvent en tirer en termes de santé. L’état de santé des enfants des immigrants et des générations ultérieures est moins étudié. Cet avantage en termes de santé s’appliquera-t-il aux enfants migrants et aux enfants des immigrants ? Perdurera-t-il lorsque ceux-ci passeront à l’âge adulte ? A partir de deux vagues de données issues de l’Etude longitudinale nationale sur la santé des adolescents, j’ai comparé l’état de santé de jeunes immigrants (1,5 génération), d’enfants d’immigrants (2ème génération) et d’adolescents nés dans le pays d’immigration issus de parents eux-mêmes nés dans le pays d’immigration (3ème génération et au-delà). L’auto-évaluation de la santé sert à mesurer l’état de santé. A l’issue de cette analyse, j’ai découvert que les personnes hispaniques interrogées et les personnes hispaniques de deuxième génération interrogées étaient plus susceptibles de faire état d'un mauvais état de santé.Una importante recopilación de estudios de investigación sobre la emigración internacional se centra en la “paradoja de salud del inmigrante” y los beneficios sanitarios que los inmigrantes pueden experimentar a causa de ello. Sin embargo, los resultados sanitarios de los niños inmigrantes y de las posteriores generaciones se estudian menos. ¿Se aplicará el beneficio protector para la salud a los niños emigrantes y a los hijos de inmigrantes? ¿Perdurará a medida que pasan a la edad adulta? Utilizando dos grupos de datos del Estudio Longitudinal Nacional de la Salud Adolescente, examino las diferencias que existen en los resultados de salud entre jóvenes inmigrantes (1,5 generación), hijos de inmigrantes (segunda generación) y adolescentes nacidos en los EE. UU. con padres nacidos en los EE. UU. (tercera generación+). La propia declaración del estado de salud sirve para medir los resultados de salud. Descubro que tanto los entrevistados hispanos como los entrevistados hispanos de segunda generación tienen más probabilidades de informar sobre un estado de salud pobre

Health and Young Adulthood: Does Immigrant Generational Status Matter?

A substantial body of research in international migration focuses on the “immigrant health paradox” and the health benefits immigrants may experience because of it. Less examined are the health outcomes of immigrants’ children and later generations. Will the protective health benefit apply to child migrants and the children of immigrants? Will it endure as they transition to adulthood? Using two waves of data from the Na-tional Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, I examine the differences in health out-comes among young immigrants (1.5 generation), children of immigrants (2nd genera-tion), and native-born adolescents with native-born parents (3rd generation+). Self-reported health serves to measure health outcomes. I find that both Hispanic respon-dents and Hispanic second-generation respondents are more likely to report poor health

Generational Differences Among Mexican-Americans in Nutrition, Obesity, and Health Outcomes: Implications for Health Incorporation

This dissertation examines the health of Mexican-Americans across generations in the United States and addresses some of the questions involving the Latino health paradox, that is, how poor immigrants could report better health than groups that have been in the United States for longer periods. Using data from Add Health, the research shows that obesity increases across generations. It examines obesity, health status and nutrition. Compared with the third-plus generation, the children of immigrants are somewhat more likely to be obese as children but less likely to be obese as adults. The higher the education of the parents, the lower the level of obesity. In terms of nutrition, the first generation eats the most fruits and vegetables, although their consumption is unrelated to obesity. The second generation is the most likely to eat fast food, frequent consumption of which doubles the odds of obesity by adulthood. Family closeness lowers the odds of obesity. All in all, the results show the complexity of the relationships between time in the United States (whether measured as an actual temporal interval or as family generations) and health patterns within immigrant groups

Introduction: Facing global crises

We introduce the idea of interconnected global crises affecting the lives of peoples, including economic, sociocultural, political and ecological crises as well as the crisis of violence. They are all situated at the intersection of public policy and lived experiences, whether this is in families, communities or workplaces and influence how social institutions operate in different places. They also, paradoxically, present opportunities for resistance and hope, and it is this complexity and potential that is addressed in the handbook. We consider lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic about the pervading nature of social inequality but also the potential of solidarity movements ranging from local to international levels. We overview all the chapters, viewed through four different perspectives or lenses: a critical lens; a praxis lens; an ecological lens; and a reflective lens

Using proteomic analysis of the human amniotic fluid to identify histologic chorioamnionitis

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the relationship between histologic chorioamnionitis and four amniotic fluid proteomic biomarkers characteristic of inflammation (defensins 2 and 1, calgranulins C and A). METHODS: One hundred fifty-eight women with singleton pregnancies had a clinically indicated amniocentesis to rule out inflammation and infection in the context of preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes. A proteomic fingerprint (Mass Restricted score) was generated from amniotic fluid using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The Mass Restricted score ranges from 0 to 4 (none to all four biomarkers present) in direct relationship with severity of intra-amniotic inflammation. Presence or absence of biomarkers was analyzed in relationship to placental pathology. Criteria for severity of histologic chorioamnionitis were 3 stages and 4 grades of inflammation of the amnion, choriodecidua and chorionic plate. RESULTS: The prevalence of histologic chorioamnionitis was 64% (stage I 12 /0, stage II 16%, and stage III 37%). The Mass Restricted score significantly correlated with stages of histologic chorioamnionitis (r=0.539, P<.001), grades of choriodeciduitis (r=0.465, P<.001), and amnionitis (r=0.536, P<.001). African-American women were overrepresented in the group with severe inflammation (Mass Restricted score 3-4, P=.022). Of the four biomarkers of the Mass Restricted score, calgranulin C had the strongest relationship with presence of stage III chorioamnionitis, independent of race, amniocentesis-to-delivery interval, and gestational age. CONCLUSION: Proteomic analysis of amniotic fluid provides an opportunity for early recognition of histologic chorioamnionitis. This methodology may in the future identify candidates for antenatal therapeutic interventions

Soluble Klotho, a biomarker and therapeutic strategy to reduce bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants

Preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) have accelerated lung aging and poor long-term outcomes. Klotho is an antiaging protein that modulates oxidative stress, angiogenesis and fibrosis. Here we test the hypothesis that decreased cord Klotho levels in preterm infants predict increased BPD-PH risk and early Klotho supplementation prevents BPD-like phenotype and PH in rodents exposed to neonatal hyperoxia. In experiment 1, Klotho levels were measured in cord blood of preterm infants who were enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study. In experiment 2, using an experimental BPD-PH model, rat pups exposed to room air or hyperoxia (85% O ) were randomly assigned to receive every other day injections of recombinant Klotho or placebo. The effect of Klotho on lung structure, PH and cardiac function was assessed. As compared to controls, preterm infants with BPD or BPD-PH had decreased cord Klotho levels. Early Klotho supplementation in neonatal hyperoxia-exposed rodents preserved lung alveolar and vascular structure, attenuated PH, reduced pulmonary vascular remodeling and improved cardiac function. Together, these findings have important implications as they suggest that perinatal Klotho deficiency contributes to BPD-PH risk and strategies that preserve Klotho levels, may improve long-term cardiopulmonary outcomes in preterm infants