title: The effect of acculturation on frailty among older Mexican Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of acculturation on becoming frail and prefrail over a 10-year period among older Mexican Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationally representative sample of 2,049 Mexican Americans aged 67 to 108 was analyzed. Adjusted for sociodemographics and health, longitudinal multinomial mixed models examined the effects of English language and frequency of contact with Anglo-Americans on transitions among deceased, nonfrail, prefrail, and frail statuses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater English language proficiency was associated with a 10% reduced likelihood of becoming prefrail (p < .05) and marginally associated with a reduced likelihood of becoming frail (relative risk = 0.88; p = .07). Frequent contact with Anglos was significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of becoming frail (relative risk = 0.87; p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among older Mexican Americans, acculturation at baseline was protective of transitioning from a nonfrail or prefrail to a frail state. These findings suggest that increased acculturation may provide Mexican Americans with protection from health issues in old age.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0434, USA. mcmasel@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Meredith C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Masel
authors.forename: Bret
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Howrey
authors.forename: M Kristen
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Peek
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States