A large proportion of Asian adolescents come from families that had immigrated to the U.S.. This study used data from 15,686 11-16 year old adolescents who participated in the 1997-98 WHO Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Survey to compare the health and risk behavior of Asian-American adolescents based on their families' recency of immigration. Language spoken at home was used as a proxy for recency of immigration. Recent immigrant families were defined as families that speak only or mostly another language (29.9%), whereas non-recent immigrants were defined by families that speak English and another language equally (48.6%). Families that speak English only were considered non-immigrants (21.5%). Weighted data analyses were conducted using SUDAAN. 78.5% of Asian adolescents come from immigrant families. 65.6% of these children are born in the U.S.. Compared to adolescents from non-immigrant families, adolescents from recent immigrant families are less likely to have their own bedroom, a father who is employed, to always wear a seat belt and bicycle helmet, to exercise, to see a doctor or nurse for any injury, to feel safe at school and be sure of their own future. They are also more likely to watch TV 4 hours a day or more. Values for non-recent immigrants on these variables tend to fall between those of the recent and non-immigrant groups.Children of recent immigrant families face a host of adverse school and health factors in their families' new homeland. Public health, social and education programs should be targeted towards reducing these disparities.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize large proportion of Asian adolescents come from families that speak limited English at home. 2. Understand the health risk differentials among different Asian immigrant groups when stratified by language spoken at home 3. Develop programs to target children from immigrant families
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Asian Americans
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.