Walking Out of One Culture Into Another: Health Concerns of Early Adolescent Latinos

Adolescence is considered a critical life transition that can lead to heightened vulnerability. Acculturation takes on increased importance during this period. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturation and perceived health concerns of early adolescent Latinos in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of school nursing 2008-04, Vol.24 (2), p.88-94
Main Authors: Larson, Kim L., McQuiston, Chris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acculturation
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Adolescents
Aggression
Anxiety
Attitudes
Cultural Context
Cultural Maintenance
Developmental Stages
Drinking
Early Adolescents
English (Second Language)
Ethnic Groups
Ethnicity
Family (Sociological Unit)
Females
Focus Groups
Gender Differences
Health
Health Behavior
Hispanic Americans
Home Visits
Language Proficiency
Limited English Speaking
Literature Reviews
Males
Migration
North Carolina
Nursing
Parents
Peer Groups
Pregnancy
Preservation
Public Schools
Risk
Rural Areas
School Nurses
Sexual Abuse
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Summary:Adolescence is considered a critical life transition that can lead to heightened vulnerability. Acculturation takes on increased importance during this period. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturation and perceived health concerns of early adolescent Latinos in rural North Carolina. A qualitative descriptive design using gender-specific focus groups was conducted in the summer of 2001. Twenty-six Latino adolescents, predominantly from Mexico, participated in one of four focus groups. Acculturation was assessed using the Short Acculturation Scale (Marin & Marin, 1991). The most prevalent health concern of the girls was unsolicited physical contact and aggressive male behavior. Boys expressed concerns about stress related to financial worries and drinking alcohol. A better understanding of where Latino adolescents are located in the acculturation process can assist school nurses in developing targeted school-based prevention programs that focus on building specific skills for Latino girls and boys.
ISSN:1059-8405
1546-8364
DOI:10.1177/10598405080240020701