title: Acculturation and cardiovascular disease risk in midlife immigrant women from the former Soviet Union.
abstract: This study examines relationships among acculturation, depression, and cardiovascular risk factors in midlife women from the former Soviet Union and identifies factors predicting Framingham Risk Scores. Data were collected at baseline and 1 year later from 218 participants in a longitudinal study of postimmigration health. The leading risk factors were obesity, dyslipidemia, and depression. Older women had lower American Behavioral Acculturation subscale scores, higher Russian Behavioral Acculturation subscale scores, and higher depression scores. Length of residence was significantly correlated with American behavioral acculturation but not Russian behavioral acculturation. Baseline body mass index, both acculturation scores, and depression scores predicted Framingham Risk Scores after 1 year, but serum glucose did not. The results suggest that contrary to findings in other immigrant groups, women from the former Soviet Union may decrease their risk for coronary heart disease as they assume a more American lifestyle. Nursing interventions to address the high cardiovascular disease risk in this population are suggested.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. arlenem@uic.edu
authors.forename: Arlene Michaels
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Peggy J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.forename: JoEllen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilbur
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sorokin
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014586:USSR / Q000208:ethnology