Language acculturation and pediatric injury risk

David C Schwebel; Carl M Brezausek

doi:10.1007/s10903-008-9158-y

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Language acculturation and pediatric injury risk

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Language acculturation and pediatric injury risk

David C Schwebel and Carl M Brezausek

Journal of immigrant and minority health, Vol.11(3), pp.168-173

06/01/2009

DOI: 10.1007/s10903-008-9158-y

PMID: 18536989

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Abstract

The number of immigrant children in the US continues to grow rapidly, but pediatric immigrant health remains a poorly understood domain. Previous research suggests immigrant children have reduced risk for injury, but the reason for that finding remains unknown. One leading hypothesis is cultural-less acculturated children in the United States appear to be protected from injury-but the combined influence of immigrant status and acculturation is unclear. This study examines the roles of immigration and language acculturation on pediatric injury risk. Samples of 8,526 children and 4,010 adolescents included in the 2003 California Health Interview Survey were studied. The primary analytic technique was Poisson regressions predicting incidents of injury requiring professional medical attention. Predictor variables included demographic characteristics, health insurance availability, birthplace (US vs. other), and language acculturation. Both birthplace and language acculturation were related to children's and to adolescent's risk for unintentional injury, but language acculturation emerged as the stronger univariate predictor and only multivariate predictor of injury in both models. Possible interpretations of the results are discussed.

Acculturation

Adolescent

Adolescent Behavior - ethnology

Analysis of Variance

Child

Child Behavior - ethnology

Emigrants and Immigrants - statistics & numerical data

Female

Humans

Interpersonal Relations

Language

Male

Risk Factors

Socioeconomic Factors

United States - epidemiology

Verbal Behavior

Wounds and Injuries - ethnology

Wounds and Injuries - prevention & control

Details

Title: Subtitle: Language acculturation and pediatric injury risk
Creators: David C Schwebel - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Carl M Brezausek - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of immigrant and minority health, Vol.11(3), pp.168-173
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-008-9158-y
PMID: 18536989
NLM abbreviation: J Immigr Minor Health
ISSN: 1557-1912
eISSN: 1557-1920
Language: English
Date published: 06/01/2009
Academic Unit: Research Administration
Record Identifier: 9984949187302771

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