Journal of immigrant and minority health

1557-19202312021FebJournal of immigrant and minority healthJ Immigr Minor HealthAssimilation, Acculturation, and Allostatic Load in U.S.- and Foreign-Born Hispanics.354435-4410.1007/s10903-020-01012-7The present study assessed how the adaptation to American culture by United States (U.S.)-born and foreign-born Hispanics living in the U.S. may influence stress-related physiological aspects that may impair health. Data on 8,360 Hispanics living in the U.S. categorized as U.S.-born (n = 3347) and foreign-born (n = 5013) from NHANES 1999-2010 (ages 18-85) were used. Stress-related physiological impact was measured by the allostatic load index (ALoad). Adaptation to American culture was evaluated through three acculturation-related measures. The average age was 39.39 years in a sample where 51% were males. ALoad was classified as no load (15.41%), low load (55.33%), and high load (29.24%). The U.S.-born Hispanics showed higher ALoad compared to foreign-born Hispanics (p < 0.001). Among foreign-born Hispanics, length of residence (LOR) and age of arrival in the U.S. (AOA) were associated with higher ALoad scores (p < 0.05), and in U.S.-born Hispanics, age and sex were positively associated and education was negatively associated with ALoad scores (p < 0.05). Adaptation to American culture in foreign-born Hispanics living in the U.S. appears to influence levels of ALoad in this population.CedilloYenni EYEDepartment of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Webb Building 552, 1675 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-3360, USA. yennicj@uab.edu.BertrandBrendaBDepartment of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Webb 534, 1675 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL, 35205-3360, USA.BakerElizabethEDepartment of Sociology, College of Arts and Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Heritage Hall 460F, 1401 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.CherringtonAndrea LALDivision of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Medical Towers 624, 1717 11th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205-3360, USA.BeasleyT MarkTMDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Ryals Public Health Bldg, 309E, 1665 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL, 35294-3360, USA.FernándezJosé RJRDepartment of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Webb 522, 675 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-3360, USA.engP30 DK056336DKNIDDK NIH HHSUnited StatesJournal Article