The Impact of Acculturation and Racialization on Self-Rated Health Status Among U.S. Latinos

Authors

Cirila Estela Vasquez Guzman, Department of Sociology, The University of New Mexico, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Gabriel R. Sanchez, Department of Political Science, The University of New Mexico, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy, Albuquerque, NM, USA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-27-2018

Abstract

We investigate the Hispanic paradox by examining the relationship between acculturation and health status of Latinos to understand nuances among this growing heterogeneous population using a 2011 Latino Decisions survey. We find that acculturation remains an important determinant of Latino health; however, this varies based on whether the sample is restricted to immigrants or includes all Latino adults and on the measures of acculturation employed. We find Latino citizens reported better health than non-citizens; however, other acculturation measures, such as language use and time in the U.S. do not have a marked effect. Furthermore, skin color matters only for U.S.-born Latinos. Racialization is therefore important to consider within the context of the Hispanic paradox. Our findings suggest that some of the disadvantages stemming from minority status in the U.S. are more prominent among Latinos who have greater experience with the racial hierarchy of the U.S. and greater acculturation more broadly.

Recommended Citation

Vasquez Guzman, C.E., Sanchez, G.R. The Impact of Acculturation and Racialization on Self-Rated Health Status Among U.S. Latinos. J Immigrant Minority Health 21, 129–135 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0696-7