Cross-generational effects of discrimination among immigrant mothers: perceived discrimination predicts child’s healthcare visits for illness

TitleCross-generational effects of discrimination among immigrant mothers: perceived discrimination predicts child's healthcare visits for illness
Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsHalim, M. L., H. Yoshikawa, and D. M. Amodio
OBJECTIVE: This study tested whether an immigrant mother's perception of ethnic and language-based discrimination affects the health of her child (indexed by the child's frequency of sick visits to the doctor, adjusting for well-visits), as a function of her ethnic-group attachment and length of U.S. residency. METHOD: A community-based sample of 98 immigrant Dominican and Mexican mothers of normally developing 14-month-old children were interviewed. Mothers reported their perceived ethnic and language-based discrimination, degree of ethnic-group attachment, length of time in the United States, and frequency of their child's doctor visits for both illness and routine (healthy) exams. RESULTS: Among more recent immigrants, greater perceived ethnic and language-based discrimination were associated with more frequent sick-child visits, but only among those reporting low ethnic-group attachment. The associations between both forms of perceived discrimination and sick-child visits were not observed among mothers reporting high ethnic-group attachment. Among more established immigrants, perceived language-based discrimination was associated with more frequent sick-child visits regardless of ethnic-group attachment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a Latina mother's experience with ethnic and language-based discrimination is associated with her child's health, as indicated by doctor visits for illness, but that strong ethnic-group attachment may mitigate this association among recent immigrants.
Title Cross-generational effects of discrimination among immigrant mothers: perceived discrimination predicts child's healthcare visits for illness
Publication Title Health Psychol
Publication Type Journal Article
Published Year 2013
Authors M.L. Halim; H. Yoshikawa; D.M. Amodio
Accession Number 22390736
Number 2
ISBN Number 1930-7810 (Electronic)<br/>0278-6133 (Linking)
Grant List
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