Effects of socioeconomic status and acculturation on accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among Mexican American adolescents: findings from NHANES 2003-2004.
BACKGROUND
Socioeconomic status (SES) and acculturation are potential contributors of adolescent physical activity disparity among ethnic groups in the U.S. However, studies relying on self-report physical activity measures have reported inconsistent findings regarding sociocultural predictors of physical activity. Therefore, the current study examined the main and interactive effects of SES and acculturation on accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) among Mexican American adolescents.


METHODS
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004 was analyzed. Samples of 153 and 169 Mexican American boys and girls, respectively, were analyzed. SES was indicated by poverty-to-income ratio (PIR); and acculturation was measured by 5-item English preference scales and adolescent and parental country of birth. Regression models were tested separately for boys and girls.


RESULTS
U.S.-born boys compared with immigrants did more MVPA (β = .48, P < .01). On the contrary, the effect of English preference on MVPA in boys was negative (β = -.05, P < .01) and amplified by higher SES (β = -.02, P < .01). For girls, none of the tested variables were significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher SES was a risk factor for physical inactivity in Mexican American adolescents, by a moderating mechanism. In addition, physical activity promotion efforts need to consider English speaking and immigrant Mexican American adolescent boys as a target population.
Dept of Sport and Health Sciences, Sangmyung University, Seoul, Korea.
Hyo
H
Lee
Bradley J
BJ
Cardinal
Paul D
PD
Loprinzi
D061725:Accelerometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult