Who is Hispanic? Definitions and their consequences.
What is the appropriate method for classifying Spanish-speaking-origin inhabitants of the United States? This paper presents relevant data from the first wave of a longitudinal study of adolescents in the greater Miami area. As expected, the broadest definition--"up to third generation" Hispanic--identified the largest proportion of the sample as Hispanic, whereas parent self-report placed the smallest proportion into the Hispanic category. When policymakers are concerned about enumerating the entire Hispanic population, a definition broader than self-identification should be used; in estimating prevalence rates, however, the use of self-identification may be adequate.
Zimmerman
R S
RS
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.
Vega
W A
WA
Gil
A G
AG
Warheit
G J
GJ
Apospori
E
E
Biafora
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012650:Self Disclosure; D014481:United States