Aggie J. Noah

Racial segregation and maternal smoking during pregnancy: A multilevel analysis using the racial segregation interaction index

Drawing from both the place stratification and ethnic enclave perspectives, we use multilevel modeling to investigate the relationships between womens race/ethnicity (i.e., non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Asian, and Hispanic) and maternal smoking during pregnancy, and examine if these relationships are moderated by racial segregation in the continental United States. The results show that increased interaction with whites is associated with increased probability of maternal smoking during pregnancy, and racial segregation moderates the relationships between race/ethnicity and maternal smoking. Specifically, living in a less racially segregated area is related to a lower probability of smoking during pregnancy for black women, but it could double and almost triple the probability of smoking for Asian women and Hispanic women, respectively. Our findings provide empirical evidence for both the place stratification and ethnic enclave perspectives.

Why the racial gap in life expectancy is declining in the United States

BACKGROUND Blacks have lower life expectancy than whites in the United States. That disparity could be due to racial differences in the causes of death, with blacks being more likely to die of causes that affect the young, or it could be due to differences in the average ages of blacks and whites who die of the same cause. Prior studies fail to distinguish these two possibilities. OBJECTIVE In this study we determine how much of the 2000–10 reduction in the racial gap in life expectancy resulted from narrowing differences in the cause-specific mean age at death for blacks and whites, as opposed to changing cause-specific probabilities for blacks and whites. METHOD We introduce a method for separating the difference-in-probabilities and difference-inage components of group disparities in life expectancy. RESULTS Based on the new method, we find that 60% of the decline in the racial gap in life expectancy from 2000 to 2010 was attributable to reduction in the age component, largely because of declining differences in the age at which blacks and whites die of chronic diseases. CONCLUSION Our findings shed light on the sources of the declining racial gap in life expectancy in the United States, and help to identify where advances need to be made to achieve the goal of eliminating racial disparities in life expectancy.

Pinpointing the sources of the Asian mortality advantage in the USA

Background Asian–Americans outlive whites by an average of nearly 8 years. By determining the sources of the Asian mortality advantage, we can pinpoint where there is the greatest potential for raising the life expectancy of whites and other groups in the USA. Methods Our analyses include all Asian and white deaths in the USA between 2006 and 2010, from the Center for Disease Control. Using the International Classification of Diseases (V.10), we code causes of deaths into 19 categories, based on the most common causes as well as causes particularly relevant to racial differences. We then create life tables and apply a newly-developed demographic method to determine whether Asians have longer life expectancy because they are less likely than whites to die of causes of death that strike at younger ages, or because they tend to outlive whites regardless of cause of death. Results Nearly 90% of the Asian–white life expectancy gap is attributable to the fact that Asians tend to outlive whites regardless of the cause of death. The causes that contribute the most to the gap are heart disease (24%) and cancers (18%). Men contribute somewhat more to the gap than women do (55% vs 45%), primarily because Asian–white differences in mortality are greater among men than among women with respect to suicide, traffic accidents and accidental poisoning. Conclusions For almost all causes of death, Asian victims tend to be older than white victims. The greatest potential for raising the life expectancy of whites to that of Asians, then, resides in efforts that effectively increase whites’ average age at death for the most common causes of death.

Why Lifespans Are More Variable Among Blacks Than Among Whites in the United States

Lifespans are both shorter and more variable for blacks than for whites in the United States. Because their lifespans are more variable, there is greater inequality in length of life—and thus greater uncertainty about the future—among blacks. This study is the first to decompose the black-white difference in lifespan variability in America. Are lifespans more variable for blacks because they are more likely to die of causes that disproportionately strike the young and middle-aged, or because age at death varies more for blacks than for whites among those who succumb to the same cause? We find that it is primarily the latter. For almost all causes of death, age at death is more variable for blacks than it is for whites, especially among women. Although some youthful causes of death, such as homicide and HIV/AIDS, contribute to the black-white disparity in variance, those contributions are largely offset by the higher rates of suicide and drug poisoning deaths for whites. As a result, differences in the causes of death for blacks and whites account, on net, for only about one-eighth of the difference in lifespan variance.

Parenting Strain Among Mexican-Origin Mothers: Differences by Parental Legal Status and Neighborhood

Despite increasing recognition of the critical importance of legal status for understanding the well-being of immigrants and their families, there has been scant research on this topic due to data limitations. Using Wave 1 of the Los Angles Family and Neighborhood Survey (2000-2002) and the 2000 decennial census, we investigate how parenting strain among Mexican-origin mothers varies by legal status and neighborhood context. We find significant differences in parenting strain by nativity and legal status, with undocumented mothers reporting the lowest level. Results from multilevel models with cross-level interactions reveal that the influence of neighborhood immigrant concentration differs by legal status. Percent foreign born in the neighborhood is associated with reduced parenting strain for documented Mexican-origin mothers while it is associated with heightened parenting strain for undocumented Mexican-origin mothers. Findings provide empirical support for the need to recognize legal status distinctions in studies of the well-being of immigrants and their families.

Cultural profiles among Mexican-Origin girls: Associations with psychosocial adjustment

Much of the cultural processes research has used single-domain measures of and approaches to cultural orientation, acculturation, and ethnic identity. The current study examined the latent cultural profiles that emerged from the intrapersonal (i.e., ethnic identity and generational status), interpersonal (i.e., language use), and familial (i.e., familial ethnic socialization) domains among 338 Mexican-origin girls in 7th (n = 170; Mage = 12.27, SD = .28; 63.6% U.S.-born) and 10th grades (n = 168; Mage = 15.21, SD = .46; 60.6% U.S.-born). Further, we examined how these profiles were associated with self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and discrimination. Four cultural profiles emerged from a latent profile analysis (i.e., strong-positive, strong-negative, Spanish-dominant low, and English-dominant low). Results indicated that the strong-positive profile (i.e., high on ethnic identity and familial ethnic socialization, bilingual, second generation) was most adaptive, in that this group had the highest self-esteem. Profiles did not differ in perceived discrimination or depressive symptoms. Results highlight the multifaceted nature of cultural profiles and suggest that affiliation with heritage culture across intrapersonal, interpersonal, and familial domains is beneficial for the psychosocial adjustment of Mexican-origin girls. Implications of the use of a multidomain conceptualization of cultural processes in research and positive youth adjustment programs are discussed. Gran parte de las investigaciones sobre procesos culturales han utilizado medidas y enfoques unidimensionales para la orientación cultural, aculturación, e identidad étnica). El presente estudio examinó perfiles culturales que surgieron a partir de las dimensiones intrapersonal (i.e., identidad étnica y estatus generacional en los Estados Unidos [EE.UU]), interpersonal (i.e., uso del idioma), y familiar (i.e., socialización étnica familiar) con 338 niñas de origen mexicano en los grados 7° (n = 170; Medad = 12.27, SD = .28; 63.6% nacidas en EE.UU.) y 10° (n = 168; Medad = 15.21, SD = .46; 60.6% nacidas en EE.UU.). Además, examinamos cómo estos perfiles estaban asociados con autoestima, síntomas depresivos, y discriminación. Cuatro perfiles culturales surgieron usando Latent Profile Analysis (i.e., fuerte-positivo, fuerte-negativo, bajo, con preferencia al español, bajo, con preferencia al inglés). Los resultados indicaron que el perfil muy positivo (i.e., alta identidad étnica y socialización étnica familiar, bilingüe, y segunda generación) fue el mejor adaptado ya que este grupo tuvo el nivel más alto de autoestima. No hubo diferencia entre los perfiles en discriminación y síntomas depresivos. Los resultados resaltan el origen multifacético de los perfiles culturales y sugieren que la afiliación hacia el patrimonio cultural de origen familiar sobre las áreas intrapersonales, interpersonales, y familiares es beneficiosa para adaptación psicológica de la niñas de origen mexicano. Se discutirán las implicaciones que tiene el uso de una concepción multifacética de perfiles culturales en la investigación y programas para la adaptación positiva de jóvenes.

Early cognitive skills of Mexican-origin children: The roles of parental nativity and legal status.

Although one-third of children of immigrants have undocumented parents, little is known about their early development. Using data from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey and decennial census, we assessed how childrens cognitive skills at ages 3 to 5 vary by ethnicity, maternal nativity, and maternal legal status. Specifically, Mexican children of undocumented mothers were contrasted with Mexican children of documented mothers and Mexican, white, and black children with U.S.-born mothers. Mexican children of undocumented mothers had lower emergent reading skills than all other groups and lower emergent mathematics skills than all groups with U.S.-born mothers. Multilevel regression models showed that differences in reading skills are explained by aspects of the home environment, but the neighborhood context also matters. Cross-level interactions suggest that immigrant concentration boosts emergent reading and mathematics skills for children with undocumented parents, but does not similarly benefit children whose parents are native born.

Heterogeneity of Hepatitis B Infection Among Pregnant Asian American and Pacific Islander Women

INTRODUCTION Perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is a key driver of racial health disparities in liver cancer and mortality in the U.S. This study documents the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women across racial/ethnic groups and among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to assess the need for intervention, and then identifies the individual correlates of hepatitis B virus infection among Asian American and Pacific Islander pregnant women. METHODS Using the 2014-2015U.S. birth rate population data, this study estimates a series of logistic regression models to examine the associations between individual-level correlates and hepatitis B virus infection among Asian American and Pacific Islanders pregnant women. Data were analyzed in July 2017. RESULTS Among Asian American and Pacific Islander pregnant women, Chinese American mothers are ten times more likely to experience hepatitis B virus infection than are Asian Indian and Japanese American mothers. Foreign-born mothers are significantly more likely to experience hepatitis B virus infection during pregnancy than those of their U.S.-born counterparts. Maternal SES characteristics are important correlates of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS Studies must disaggregate the pan-ethnic Asian American and Pacific Islander category to examine the health and health disparities of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Given the heterogeneity of hepatitis B virus infection prevalence among Asian American and Pacific Islander pregnant women, the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs depends on careful consideration of ethnicity in conjunction with group-specific factors.

Behavioral Functioning Among Mexican-Origin Children: The Roles of Parental Legal Status and the Neighborhood Context

Abstract Research on behavioral functioning among Mexican-origin children primarily uses an individual-centered approach that ignores the residential context. In addition, most studies have been unable to consider an important measure of inequality for this population, legal status; and mental health of children with undocumented parents is underexplored. We address these gaps by investigating the influence of parental legal status and neighborhood characteristics on Mexican-origin children’s behavioral functioning using a multilevel approach. We use data from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Study and 2000 decennial census. Our primary focus is variation in internalizing and externalizing behavior problems among Mexican-origin youth (N = 2,535) with mothers who are undocumented, documented or naturalized citizens, or US-born using multilevel models. The multilevel results show the importance of considering parental legal status. Mexican children of unauthorized mothers are more likely to exhibit internalizing and externalizing problems than all other groups of Mexican children. Furthermore, neighborhood-concentrated disadvantage is significantly associated with internalizing behavior problems, and neighborhood-concentrated affluence is significantly associated with externalizing behavior problems. In short, the results demonstrate the importance of considering both parental legal status and neighborhood contexts for understanding behavior problems of Mexican-origin children. Our findings suggest that Mexican children’s mental health outcomes – measured by internalizing and externalizing behavior problems – vary significantly by parental legal status and neighborhood contexts. This study provides important nuances for public policy for health care prevention and interventions.

Revisiting the Rural Paradox in US Counties with Spatial Durbin Modeling

The rural paradox refers to the phenomenon that the standardized mortality rates are lower in rural than in urban areas despite the relatively poor socioeconomic profiles among rural residents. Previous research on the geographic mortality differential has failed to recognize the complexity of the concept of rurality and the spatial structure underlying the ecological mortality data has not been fully utilized to advance our understanding of the rural paradox. Drawing from the drift and breeder hypotheses, this study first uses county-level data to measure “rural” with three distinct aspects, namely ecological dimension, economic integration, and natural resources dependency. Then, it employs the spatial Durbin approach to capture the exogenous relationships between the mortality of a county and the features of its neighbors. The key findings include that (1) the drift hypothesis (i.e., internal migration) did not appear to explain the rural paradox, but the breeder hypothesis (i.e., exposures to environments) partially accounts for the rural-urban mortality disparity, (2) the associations between the ecological dimension and economic integration with mortality were explained after accounting for the exogenous relationships, (3) the observed spatial feedback effects reflected the spatial dynamics across county boundaries, and (4) the spatial dynamic processes between mortality and its determinants were largely confined to the first- and second-order neighbors. The results of this study indicate that future ecological mortality research should further utilize the spatial structure to explain the variation of mortality across space.