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Background: Parental psychopathology is associated with their children's posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, the mechanisms through which this occurs remain unclear. We hypothesized that exposure to childhood adversities is the mechanism linking parental psychopathology to child PTSS and that parenting practices moderated these associations. Methods: Participants (N = 1,402) with an average age of 24.03 years old (SD = 2.20), were all Puerto Ricans (50% Male and 50% Female) from the Boricua Youth Study, which is a four‐wave longitudinal study spanning almost 20 years, following individuals from childhood (ages 5–13 at Wave 1) to young adulthood. Measured variables include parental psychopathology at Wave 1, childhood adversities and parenting practices at Waves 2–3, and PTSS at Wave 4. A traditional mediation model estimated the association between parental psychopathology and child PTSS via childhood adversities. A moderated mediation model was used to examine whether parenting practices moderated this mediation model. Results: Results showed that the total effect of parental psychopathology at Wave 1 on PTSS at Wave 4 was fully mediated by childhood adversities at Waves 2–3 (direct effect b = 1.72, 95% CI = [−0.09, 3.83]; indirect effect b = 0.40, 95% CI = [0.15, 0.81]). In addition, the magnitude of this pathway varied by levels of parenting practices (i.e. parental monitoring and parent–child relationship quality). Specifically, the indirect effect of additional adversities in the psychopathology‐PTSS link was stronger with higher levels of parental monitoring but weaker with higher parent–child relationship quality scores. Conclusions: Intergenerational continuity of psychopathology may be mitigated through the prevention of additional childhood adversities via upstream interventions, emphasizing providing parents with mental health needs with parenting tools. Family‐based interventions focused on providing families with the tools to improve parent–child relationships may reduce the negative impact of childhood adversities on mental health across the life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older migrants face special difficulties in the access and use of long-term care services and supports (LTSS). Our study was designed to examine how older persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) in two groups of migrants (Spanish or Chinese speaking) interact with the LTSS system. Focus groups were used to elicit information from members of these groups. We discovered Chinese elders were likely to believe that the LTSS services could, if managed properly, meet their needs, while the Spanish speakers were more skeptical. These differences were associated with the presence of trusted intermediaries among the Chinese elders who could represent their interests, while most Spanish speakers did not report having such intermediaries. In this way, trust, or lack of it, was uncovered as the key element defining older adults’ interactions with the formal health and social service systems. Findings will be used to develop a modeling method that will allow us to analyze results in a manner that can be extended to use with other migrant groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have identified plasma metabolites associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease; however, little research on this topic has been conducted in Latinos, especially Puerto Ricans. Objective: This study aims to add to the growing body of metabolomics research in Latinos to better understand and improve the health of this population. Methods: We assessed the association between plasma metabolites and global cognition over 12 years of follow-up in 736 participants of the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS). Metabolites were measured with untargeted metabolomic profiling (Metabolon, Inc) at baseline. We used covariable adjusted linear mixed models (LMM) with a metabolite * time interaction term to identify metabolites (of 621 measured) associated with ∼12 years cognitive trajectory. Results: We observed strong inverse associations between medium-chain fatty acids, caproic acid, and the dicarboxylic acids, azelaic and sebacic acid, and global cognition. N-formylphenylalanine, a tyrosine pathway metabolite, was associated with improvement in cognitive trajectory. Conclusions: The metabolites identified in this study are generally consistent with prior literature and highlight a role medium chain fatty acid and tyrosine metabolism in cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral strains, age, and host factors are associated with variable immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and disease severity. Puerto Ricans have a genetic mixture of races: European, African, and Native American. We hypothesized that unique host proteins/pathways are associated with COVID-19 disease severity in Puerto Rico. Following IRB approval, a total of 95 unvaccinated men and women aged 21–71 years old were recruited in Puerto Rico from 2020–2021. Plasma samples were collected from COVID-19-positive subjects (n = 39) and COVID-19-negative individuals (n = 56) during acute disease. COVID-19-positive individuals were stratified based on symptomatology as follows: mild (n = 18), moderate (n = 13), and severe (n = 8). Quantitative proteomics was performed in plasma samples using tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling. Labeled peptides were subjected to LC/MS/MS and analyzed by Proteome Discoverer (version 2.5), Limma software (version 3.41.15), and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA, version 22.0.2). Cytokines were quantified using a human cytokine array. Proteomics analyses of severely affected COVID-19-positive individuals revealed 58 differentially expressed proteins. Cadherin-13, which participates in synaptogenesis, was downregulated in severe patients and validated by ELISA. Cytokine immunoassay showed that TNF-α levels decreased with disease severity. This study uncovers potential host predictors of COVID-19 severity and new avenues for treatment in Puerto Ricans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the burden of Alzheimer's disease, the use of assistive technologies for patients and their informal caregivers is considered essential. However, these technologies are made as "one size fits all" instead of being tailored to accommodate people with varying degrees of cognitive impairment and those with diverse races/ethnicities. Thus, the aim of this survey was to determine whether the types of assistance needed most, and the technology used by those with cognitive impairment differed by race (White/non-Hispanics, Black or African Americans, and Hispanic/Latinos or Puerto Ricans) and severity of dementia (mild, moderate, severe). One hundred and eighty informal caregivers of people with different levels of severity of cognitive impairment and several different races/ethnicities filled out an online survey regarding assistance needed and technologies used. The results show that racial minorities considered the needs for assistance with Basic Activities of Daily Living as more important compared to White/non-Hispanics with mild dementia. Furthermore, Hispanic/Latinos or Puerto Ricans and White/non-Hispanics with severe dementia were shown to use technology that is designed to help with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living more than those with moderate dementia. Lastly, during COVID-19, devices to assist with walking, preparing meals and personal hygiene have been used significantly more by White/non-Hispanics with severe dementia compared to Hispanic/Latinos or Puerto Ricans. The results point to the need to design for those with severe dementia, regardless of race, and should focus on addressing needs related to both Instrumental and Basic Activities of Daily Living. Developers of assistive technology should consider designing technology that can accommodate all severity levels of cognitive impairment. More research is needed to determine the usability of assistive technology that is designed for those with cognitive impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a malignant bone tumor most commonly affecting non‐Hispanic White (NHW) adolescent males, though recognition among Hispanic individuals is rising. Prior population‐based studies in the United States (US), utilizing Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) have shown higher all‐cause mortality among White Hispanics, Blacks, and those of low socioeconomic status (SES). Florida is not part of SEER but is home to unique Hispanic populations including Cubans, Puerto Ricans, South Americans that contrasts with the Mexican Hispanic majority in other US states. This study aimed to assess racial/ethnic disparities on incidence and survival outcomes among this diverse Florida patient population. Methodology: Our study examined all patients diagnosed with osseous ES (2005–2018) in Florida (n = 411) based on the state's population‐based cancer registry dataset. Florida Age‐adjusted Incidence Rates (AAIRs) were computed by sex and race‐ethnicity and compared to the equivalent populations in SEER. Cause‐specific survival disparities among Florida patients were examined using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Univariable and multivariable analyses using Cox regression were performed for race/ethnicity, with adjustment for age, sex, year of diagnosis, site of disease, staging, SES, and insurance type. Results: There was a significantly higher incidence of osseous ES in Florida Hispanic males (AAIR 2.6/1,000,000); (95% CI: 2.0–3.2 per 1,000,000; n = 84) compared to the SEER Hispanic males (AAIR 1.2/1,000,000;1.1–1.4 per 1,000,000; n = 382). Older age, distant metastasis, lack of chemotherapy or surgical resection were statistically significant determinants of poor survival while SES, insurance status and race‐ethnicity were not. However, among nonmetastatic ES, Florida Hispanics had an increased risk of death compared to Florida NHW (adjusted Hazard Ratio 2.32; 95%CI: 1.20–4.46; p = 0.012). Conclusions: Florida Hispanic males have a higher‐than‐expected incidence of osseous ES compared to the US. Hispanics of both sexes show remarkably worse survival for nonmetastatic disease compared to NHW. This disparity is likely multifactorial and requires further in‐depth studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an inherited disorder that impairs motile cilia, essential for respiratory health, with a reported prevalence of 1 in 16,309 within Hispanic populations. Despite 70% of Puerto Rican patients having the RSPH4A [c.921+3_921+6del (intronic)] founder mutation, the characterization of the ciliary dysfunction remains unidentified due to the unavailability of advanced diagnostic modalities like High-Speed Video Microscopy Analysis (HSVA). Our study implemented HSVA for the first time on the island as a tool to better diagnose and characterize the RSPH4A [c.921+3_921+6del (intronic)] founder mutation in Puerto Rican patients. By applying HSVA, we analyzed the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and pattern (CBP) in native Puerto Rican patients with PCD. Our results showed decreased CBF and a rotational CBP linked to the RSPH4A founder mutation in Puerto Ricans, presenting a novel diagnostic marker that could be implemented as an axillary test into the PCD diagnosis algorithm in Puerto Rico. The integration of HSVA technology in Puerto Rico substantially enhances the PCD evaluation and diagnosis framework, facilitating prompt detection and early intervention for improved disease management. This initiative, demonstrating the potential of HSVA as an adjunctive test within the PCD diagnostic algorithm, could serve as a blueprint for analogous developments throughout Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate patterns and trends of uterine cancer among Hispanic subgroups. The United States Cancer Statistics (USCS), National Cancer Database (NCDB), and World Population Review were used to obtain data on incidence, demographic characteristics, and cancer histology. Joinpoint regression program was used for statistical analysis. Based on 2001–2017 USCS data, the overall incidence of uterine cancer was 27.46 vs. 23.29/100,000 in Hispanics vs. non-Hispanic Whites. There was an over 2-fold higher annual increase in the incidence in Hispanics (1.94%; p < 0.001) vs. Whites (0.85%; p < 0.001), particularly in local stage disease. There was an increase in grade 1 endometrioid carcinoma (1.48%; p < 0.001 vs. −0.52%; p = 0.1) and aggressive histologic subtypes (4.04% p = 0.000 vs. 2.53% p = 0.000) in Hispanics vs. Whites. Using the NCDB (2004–2015), we analyzed 17,351 Hispanics by subgroup (Mexican, South/Central American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican). Over the 12 years, there was an increase in the proportion of uterine cancer diagnoses in all Hispanics (5.2% to 11.0%; p < 0.0001). Dominican patients experienced the largest increase in diagnosis (2.6% to 14.9%; p < 0.0001), the highest proportion of advanced disease at 28.0% (p < 0.0001), and the highest incidence of non-endometrioid histologies at 37.1% (p < 0.0001). World Population Review 2023 revealed the highest female obesity rates in Puerto Rico (51.4%), the Dominican Republic (34.1%), and Mexico (32.8%). Uterine cancer incidence is increased in Hispanics, with the largest increase in Dominican women with more advanced stages and high-risk histologic subtypes. The impact of obesity on cancer risk, especially in Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Mexicans, warrants further investigation. • Incidence of uterine cancer among Hispanic patients in the U.S. has increased. • The largest increase was in Dominican patients with more advanced stages and high-risk histologic subtypes. • Obesity may be associated with low-grade cancers in Puerto Rican and Mexican patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the United Nations no longer classifies Puerto Rico as a colony, Puerto Rico poses theoretical and empirical challenges to inquiries about national identity within (post-)colonial situations. Gazing through a sociohistorical lens, the present study explores how beliefs about legitimate membership criteria relate to self-identified Puerto Ricans' understanding of their and in-group others' national identity. By contextualizing current perceptions of national identity as linked to an emergent Puerto Rican nationalism throughout the nineteenth- and twentieth-century, this paper relates individual-level conceptions of membership criteria to institutional and discursive interventions, thereby contributing to studies of national identity in colonially (un)settled times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the historical context and legal precedents that have contributed to the disenfranchisement of Puerto Ricans in the U.S., particularly regarding presidential voting rights. It explores the legacy of colonization and the establishment of Puerto Rico as an "unincorporated territory," which has perpetuated a status quo where Puerto Ricans lack representation in national elections and Congress.

Objectives: This paper provides new estimates of disability prevalence for the archipelago and mainland-residing Puerto Rican populations ages 40 and above and compares disability by place of birth and place of residence to investigate drivers of middle and older age health. Methods: Large nationally representative samples from 2013 to 2017 American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey data are used to estimate age-specific disability prevalence for archipelago-born/archipelago-residing, archipelago-born/mainland-residing, mainland-born/mainland-residing Puerto Ricans. Results: Mainland-born/mainland-residing Puerto Ricans have the lowest age-adjusted disability rates and archipelago-born/archipelago-residing Puerto Ricans have the highest rates. Differences in education explain part of this disparity. Discussion: Similarities in disability prevalence are strongest based on where one was born as opposed to current residence, pointing to early life as a critical period in the disablement process for later-life health. Early life socio-economic disadvantage on the archipelago may have an enduring impact on later-life disability prevalence for archipelago-born Puerto Ricans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research shows that racial identification patterns among stateside Puerto Ricans deviate from the Black-White binary that has historically characterized the U.S. colour line. Thus, scholars and policymakers continue to debate the most accurate approach for racially classifying the stateside Puerto Rican – and broader Latinx – population. I address this debate by examining the process of racial identification among Puerto Ricans living in New York City and Orlando, Florida. Data from 58 in-depth interviews and the U.S. Census show that Puerto Ricans merge racial and ethnic conceptualizations when constructing racial identities. This is why most Puerto Ricans report their race as Hispanic/Latina/o. Place-based differences in racial identification also emerge, particularly when respondents are presented with separate race and Hispanic origin questions. I argue that the timing of Puerto Rican migration and the racial histories and demography of each place lead Puerto Ricans to develop different understandings of race. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethno-racial differences in psychosis risk are documented; however, there is less research on whether these differences extend to sub-threshold psychotic experiences, and whether there is significant variation within ethno-racial categories. We analyzed data from the National Latino and Asian American Survey (NLAAS) and the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the association between race/ethnicity and lifetime psychotic experiences among Latino, Asian, and Black adults in the general population, adjusting for gender, age, nativity, education level, income level, employment status, and everyday discrimination. Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Hispanics had greater odds of lifetime psychotic experiences when compared with Mexicans, though differences diminished when adjusting for covariates. Filipino and other Asians had greater odds of lifetime psychotic experiences when compared with Chinese, though again, differences diminished when adjusting for covariates. Among Black Americans, there were no significant ethnic subgroup differences. Ethno-racial differences extend across the psychosis continuum. There are nuanced health profiles across and within ethno-racial categories. Differences may be attributable to differences in experiences living in the US, underscoring the need for community-specific interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For young children, positive parenting is predictive of their prosocial development and positive emotional well-being. Understanding the factors that promote or undermine positive parenting is of particular importance for families at risk of child welfare involvement. For Latinx families, conceptualizations of risk are better viewed through a cultural lens. This paper explores predictors of positive parenting among Latinx families (Mexican and Puerto Rican) who are vulnerable to child welfare involvement. Weighted data were drawn from Wave 1 of the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-being II—Restricted Release (NSCAW-II), a national sample that approximated a probability sample of child welfare involved families. After controlling for all other variables in the model, being married and using only non-violent parenting were related to higher positive parenting scores. Experiencing IPV within the last 12 months was related to significantly lower positive parenting scores. Results from the study highlight the need for a trauma-informed approach to culturally specific services for Latinx families who are vulnerable to the child welfare system. The connection between IPV experiences and the context of positive parenting is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comic anthology Ricanstruction: Reminiscing & Rebuilding Puerto Rico engages its Afro-Latina superhero in recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria. This study uses a linguistic critical framework and Critical Discourse Analysis to determine how the anthology presents women and Puerto Ricans. Although it champions women and Puerto Rican agency, language and communication strategies in the collection reveal complexities and contradictions such as the reliance of both the central female superhero and Puerto Rican islanders on external—specifically US—assistance and collaboration, implying unity among islanders and the diaspora but also suggesting dependency in ways that index discourses of female and colonial subordination. In addition, representations of rural Puerto Rico are prone to literary romanticization but also expose actual paradigms of socio-economic discrimination. The predominant use of English in the anthology, with Spanish for emphasis, highlights speech practices of the US diaspora, yet the cyclical re-interpretations of discourse structures reference Caribbean rhythms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: From an anthropological genetic perspective, little is known about the ethnogenesis of African descendants in Puerto Rico. Furthermore, historical interactions between Indigenous Caribbean and African descendant peoples that may be reflected in the ancestry of contemporary populations are understudied. Given this dearth of genetic research and the precedence for Afro‐Indigenous interactions documented by historical, archeological, and other lines of evidence, we sought to assess the biogeographic origins of African descendant Puerto Ricans and to query the potential for Indigenous ancestry within this community. Materials and Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 58 self‐identified African descendant Puerto Ricans residing in Puerto Rico. We sequenced whole mitochondrial genomes and genotyped Y chromosome haplogroups for each male individual (n = 25). Summary statistics, comparative analyses, and network analysis were used to assess diversity and variation in haplogroup distribution between the sample and comparative populations. Results: As indicated by mitochondrial haplogroups, 66% had African, 5% had European, and 29% had Indigenous American matrilines. Along the Y chromosome, 52% had African, 28% had Western European, 16% had Eurasian, and, notably, 4% had Indigenous American patrilines. Both mitochondrial and Y chromosome haplogroup frequencies were significantly different from several comparative populations. Discussion: Biogeographic origins are consistent with historical accounts of African, Indigenous American, and European ancestry. However, this first report of Indigenous American paternal ancestry in Puerto Rico suggests distinctive features within African descendant communities on the island. Future studies expanding sampling and incorporating higher resolution genetic markers are necessary to more fully understand African descendant history in Puerto Rico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Albuterol is the first-line asthma medication used in diverse populations. Although DNA methylation (DNAm) is an epigenetic mechanism involved in asthma and bronchodilator drug response (BDR), no study has assessed whether albuterol could induce changes in the airway epithelial methylome. We aimed to characterize albuterol-induced DNAm changes in airway epithelial cells, and assess potential functional consequences and the influence of genetic variation and asthma-related clinical variables. Results: We followed a discovery and validation study design to characterize albuterol-induced DNAm changes in paired airway epithelial cultures stimulated in vitro with albuterol. In the discovery phase, an epigenome-wide association study using paired nasal epithelial cultures from Puerto Rican children (n = 97) identified 22 CpGs genome-wide associated with repeated-use albuterol treatment (p < 9 × 10–8). Albuterol predominantly induced a hypomethylation effect on CpGs captured by the EPIC array across the genome (probability of hypomethylation: 76%, p value = 3.3 × 10–5). DNAm changes on the CpGs cg23032799 (CREB3L1), cg00483640 (MYLK4-LINC01600), and cg05673431 (KSR1) were validated in nasal epithelia from 10 independent donors (false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05). The effect on the CpG cg23032799 (CREB3L1) was cross-tissue validated in bronchial epithelial cells at nominal level (p = 0.030). DNAm changes in these three CpGs were shown to be influenced by three independent genetic variants (FDR < 0.05). In silico analyses showed these polymorphisms regulated gene expression of nearby genes in lungs and/or fibroblasts including KSR1 and LINC01600 (6.30 × 10–14 ≤ p ≤ 6.60 × 10–5). Additionally, hypomethylation at the CpGs cg10290200 (FLNC) and cg05673431 (KSR1) was associated with increased gene expression of the genes where they are located (FDR < 0.05). Furthermore, while the epigenetic effect of albuterol was independent of the asthma status, severity, and use of medication, BDR was nominally associated with the effect on the CpG cg23032799 (CREB3L1) (p = 0.004). Gene-set enrichment analyses revealed that epigenomic modifications of albuterol could participate in asthma-relevant processes (e.g., IL-2, TNF-α, and NF-κB signaling pathways). Finally, nine differentially methylated regions were associated with albuterol treatment, including CREB3L1, MYLK4, and KSR1 (adjusted p value < 0.05). Conclusions: This study revealed evidence of epigenetic modifications induced by albuterol in the mucociliary airway epithelium. The epigenomic response induced by albuterol might have potential clinical implications by affecting biological pathways relevant to asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirically supported interventions are warranted to achieve desired clinical outcomes and improve service delivery. Thus, efforts to identify, adopt, and implement Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) are underway across various Latinx communities, including Puerto Ricans, where there is a growing recognition and prevalence of mental health and substance use disorders. This study investigated the needs and attitudes toward EBPs among an interdisciplinary sample of mental health professionals in Puerto Rico. An anonymous survey was distributed to social workers, psychologists, and professional counselors (N = 237). Using structural equation modeling, four dimensions of attitudes towards EBPs (openness, divergence, appeal, and requirement) were regressed on various individual and organizational factors. Some socio-demographic characteristics, educational opportunities, and organizational factors significantly contributed to specific attitudes related to the adoption of EBPs. Female participants and those working in rural settings scored higher in the openness to innovation dimension. Greater organizational support and graduating from a private institution were associated with more divergence from research, while married individuals and those trained on EBPs scored lower on this dimension. The lack of exposure to EBPs in college and younger age predicted greater interest in the appeal of adopting an EBP intervention (i.e., would adopt an EBP if it made sense). No differences in attitudes toward EBPs were found by professional discipline or work setting (i.e., clinical, community, and schools). Recommendations to increase openness and interest in the appeal of EBPs among Spanish-speaking professional communities in Latin America are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among Latina subgroups residing in the mainland United States, Puerto Rican women have the highest infant mortality rates when compared to all Latinas. Despite this, little is known about their daily lives in urban settings. This narrative analysis describes the stories regarding the life course of 21 pregnant Puerto Rican women living in an urban area in the mainland United States to identify plot types and underlying dimensions of their social ecology. Holistic form analysis was used to identify the structure of the narratives with graphical representations of the three identified types of plots (series of events that make up a story). Holistic content analysis was used to describe the major components of the narratives. Three primary plot types emerged from the narratives: Progressive, Neutral, and Circular. The women exhibited strength and tenacity to survive within a challenging urban setting often complicated by social pressures of their culture. The findings show the diversity of their lives and their social contexts even though from the viewpoint of being pregnant, Puerto Rican women who lived in a single neighborhood they may seem remarkably similar to an outsider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a lack of consensus among studies on the association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and cognitive impairment. This association is not well studied among minority populations including among Puerto Ricans. Therefore, we sought to examine this association among Boston-area Puerto Ricans.Methods: The Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS) is an ongoing longitudinal cohort that enrolled 1499 Boston-area Puerto Rican adults, aged 45-75 y at baseline. 1290 baseline participants had complete outcome and exposure data. Covariate-adjusted linear regression and linear mixed effects models were used to examine the association between PPI use, and global cognition, executive function, and memory cross-sectionally and longitudinally over ~12.7 y of follow-up. Further, we examined cross-sectional association between long-term PPI use (continuous use of ~6.2 y) and global cognition, executive function, and memory.Results: Among 1290 participants at baseline, 313 (24.3%) self-reported PPI use. Baseline PPI use was not associated with baseline global cognition, executive function, or memory. Baseline PPI use also did not alter trajectory of global cognition, executive function, or memory over ~12.7 y of follow-up. Long-term PPI use was not associated with global cognition, executive function, or memory over ~12.7 y of follow-up.Conclusions: In this study of Boston-area Puerto Ricans, we did not observe an association between PPI use and global cognition, executive function, or memory either cross-sectionally or over 12.7 y of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiometabolic diseases are among the leading causes of mortality worldwide and are increasingly prevalent in rapidly aging populations. Neighborhood socioeconomic position (SEP) and living arrangements are increasingly recognized as important determinants of cardiometabolic health but have not been examined within Puerto Rico. This study examined the association between neighborhood SEP, living arrangements, and incidence of cardiometabolic conditions among island-dwelling older Puerto Ricans, using longitudinal data from the Puerto Rican Elderly Health Conditions Project (Waves I 2002/03 and II 2006/07) linked with 2000 Census data for neighborhood-level conditions. Our sample consists of non-institutionalized adults aged 60 and older who remained in the same residence over both waves of data collection (N = 2,769). We used multilevel multinomial logistic regression models to examine the relationship between neighborhood SEP and the prevalence and incidence of cardiometabolic disease. Findings show that residence in a socioeconomically advantaged neighborhood was positively associated with reporting having one cardiometabolic condition at baseline, but not associated with the incidence of cardiometabolic conditions at follow-up. Living without a partner was negatively associated with reporting having cardiometabolic conditions compared to living with a partner. Similar results were found for the incidence of cardiometabolic conditions. Living arrangements significantly modified the relationship between neighborhood SEP and cardiometabolic conditions. Compared to living with a partner, living alone in a socioeconomically advantaged neighborhood was associated with a reduced risk of reporting having one condition. Living with children in a socioeconomically advantaged neighborhood was associated with a reduced risk of developing one cardiometabolic condition than living with a partner. Living arrangements are more salient to cardiometabolic health than neighborhood SEP. Social programs and services focused on household composition and familial support are needed to identify older Puerto Ricans potentially at risk of underdiagnosed chronic conditions, especially as ongoing economic, demographic, environmental, and healthcare crises potentially exacerbate social inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationship between post-traumatic stress and loneliness and whether this relationship varies by perceived everyday discrimination among older Puerto Ricans. A total of 304 Puerto Ricans aged 60 and above from Wave 3 of the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study were included. Ordinary least squares regression examined the association between post-traumatic stress, perceived everyday discrimination, and loneliness. Post-traumatic stress was significantly associated with a higher level of loneliness (β = 0.282; p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.142, 0.423). The interaction effect between post-traumatic stress and perceived everyday discrimination on loneliness was statistically significant (β = 0.083; p < 0.05; 95% CI: 0.062, 0.230). More specifically, the positive association between post-traumatic stress and loneliness becomes more robust with the increase in perceived everyday discrimination. Given an increase in population size on the U.S. mainland and migration from Puerto Rico due to natural disasters and declining economic conditions, it is essential to better understand the effect of perceived discrimination against older Puerto Ricans on the mainland United States as well as those who immigrated and stayed through older age. Outreach strategies and interventions that address perceived discrimination can help mitigate loneliness among older Puerto Ricans who experienced trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we further develop the notion of the 'sensory home'. We reveal how gustatory, olfactory and sonic experiences shape where and when one feels 'at home'. We draw on a qualitative, longitudinal methodology to explore how low-income Puerto Ricans experienced domestic tastescapes, smellscapes and soundscapes during the first 12 months after Hurricane Maria in 2017. We first show how the sensory home is made with familiar and routine sensory experiences, and unmade by intrusive and unfamiliar tastes, smells and sounds. Second, the sensory home is temporally dynamic as it is constituted by changing processes taking place on multiple scales and by multiple actors – particularly the state and neighbourhood. Thus, un/making the sensory home is inherently political as it is tied to state-citizen power relations – our third contribution. Finally, in disasters people asymmetrically recover not just economically or materially, but as we show, sensorially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Latino Orlando: Suburban Transformation and Racial Conflict" by Simone Delerme is a book that explores the history and impact of Puerto Ricans in Osceola County, Florida. The author examines the development of Buenaventura Lakes, a suburban community that attracted middle-class Puerto Ricans from the northern United States and Puerto Rico. The book delves into the sociopolitical changes, discriminatory challenges, and class differences within the Latino community in Osceola County. Through extensive ethnographic fieldwork, Delerme provides a comprehensive narrative that sheds light on the ethnic and racial transformations occurring in the US South. While the book could have engaged more with existing literature on Latin Americans in the US South and included maps for better spatial understanding, it is still a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and readers interested in ethnographic research and the changing demographics of the region. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, we propose that information precarity leads to and perpetuates information marginalization; communities then engage with marginalization with various types of proactive information practices. For this project, we explore how Puerto Ricans activists responded to information precarity before, during, and after Hurricane Maria. We interviewed activists about their experiences navigating the local and federal institutional environment and their information practices. We show that although Puerto Rico suffered catastrophic damage after Hurricane Maria, its already‐weakened infrastructure, coupled with fiscal instability, had created a state of information precarity for many people before the hurricane hit. We also show how Puerto Rican activists engaged in solidarity‐based, anti‐colonial, and anti‐neoliberal information activities. While previous models argue that people respond to marginalization with defensive/protective behavior, we propose people go beyond just responding; they enact their agency, resourcefulness, collective interests, and locally based knowledge to engage in proactive and subversive information practices. We conclude that marginalized actors who are critical of the structures that marginalize them transform their state of precarity into an alternative space where they can achieve their goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the abolition of slavery and the transition to free labour in late nineteenth-century Puerto Rico, seeking to understand the terms and timing of Puerto Rican abolition and the nature of society in its wake. Especially important in Puerto Rico, it argues, was the intertwined nature of slavery and other forms of forced labour as well as the predominance of foreign merchants and planters in the island's economy, which created multi-class alliances between working-class Puerto Ricans and creole elites. These class dynamics interacted with events in the metropole to influence the terms of labour on the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We possess rather little detailed information on the lives of the first inhabitants of Puerto Rico—the so-called "Archaic" or "Pre-Arawak" people—despite more than a century of archeological research. This is particularly true bioarchaeologically, as fewer than twenty burials of the several millennia of the Archaic Age have been recovered, let alone analyzed in any detail. Here, we present the results of archeological, osteological, radiometric, and isotopic analysis of five individuals from the Ortiz site in Cabo Rojo, southwestern Puerto Rico. Study of these previously unpublished remains, which represent a 20–25% increase in the sample size of remains attributed to the period, provides many critical insights into earliest Puerto Rican lifeways, including aspects of mortuary practice, paleodiet, and possibly even social organization. A review of their burial treatment finds a mostly standardized set of mortuary practices, a noteworthy finding given the site's potential millennium-long use as a mortuary space and the possibly distinct place(s) of origin of the individuals interred there. Although osteological analysis was limited by poor preservation, we were able to reconstruct aspects of the demography that indicate the presence of both male and female adults. Stable isotope analysis revealed dietary differences from later Ceramic Age individuals, while dental pathology indicated heavy masticatory wear attributable to diet and/or non-masticatory function. Perhaps most crucially, direct AMS dating of the remains confirms these as the oldest burials yet recovered from the island, providing us both with a glimpse into the lives of some of the island's first inhabitants, and with tantalizing clues to the existence of a different degree of cultural "complexity" than is often ascribed to these earliest peoples. The existence of what radiocarbon dates suggest may be a persistent formal cemetery space at the Ortiz site has potentially significant implications concerning the territoriality, mobility, and social organization of the earliest peoples of southwestern Puerto Rico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Context: Our study takes an asset-based approach to examine the experiences of Puerto Rican undergraduates and the consequences of cascading disasters (e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes, COVID-19). Puerto Rican undergraduates were prone to vulnerability during cascading disasters because they lacked emergency supplies (e.g., flashlights), effective communication pre- and postdisaster (e.g., texts), and/or knowledge of disaster-related procedures on campus. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study: In this article, we use disaster capitalism and the trauma doctrine as our theoretical underpinnings to address the colonial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico, in which Puerto Ricans have experienced disaster as an ongoing process illuminated by the sociopolitical and sociohistorical contexts that only exacerbate a longer history of deep-seated colonial traumas. Research Design: This study employs disaster capitalism and the trauma doctrine as a theoretical guide to depict an anticolonial approach and provide a thick description of the multiple case study design bounded by the phenomenon of disaster across two units of analyses from 2017 to 2020. The first unit of analysis (case 1) demonstrates how the public education sector has been diminishing in Puerto Rico due to investments, in this instance, in stateside institutes of higher education (IHEs) through hurricane relief programs. The second unit of analysis (case 2) shows how increasingly paramount it is to examine the experiences of Puerto Rican undergraduates left prone to these vulnerabilities. Conclusions/Recommendations: The theoretical application and findings from our study demonstrate that based on the intersections of disaster capitalism and the trauma doctrine, Puerto Rican undergraduates have and are still experiencing deep-seated trauma masked in disaster "relief" and "recovery" at the hands of the U.S. government and IHEs. These provide an understanding of disaster at the national, institutional, and individual levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine if SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination has an impact on the clinical course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Puerto Ricans with SLE who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were studied. Demographic parameters, clinical manifestations, disease activity (per Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), disease damage (per Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index), emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and pharmacologic therapy were determined. Baseline variables (prior to vaccination) were compared between patients with and without exacerbation after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Among those with exacerbation, clinical outcomes were determined up to 1 year after vaccination. Results: Of the entire cohort (n = 247), 14 (5.7%) had post-vaccination exacerbations. Photosensitivity, oral ulcers, anti-Ro antibodies, higher SLEDAI score, and corticosteroids exposure were associated with post-vaccination flares. Among those with post-vaccination flares, 10 (71.4%) had major organ involvement. No significant differences were observed for mean SLEDAI scores, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, disease damage, and exposure to immunosuppressive drugs before and after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. At 12 months of follow-up, all patients were fully controlled without evidence of active disease. Conclusion: In our group of SLE patients, 5.7% had a disease flare after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. Most had exacerbations involving major organs/systems. Mucocutaneous manifestations, anti-Ro antibodies, disease activity, and corticosteroids were associated with flares. Awareness of these factors and the possibility of a major lupus flare after vaccination with COVD-19 vaccines is critical to provide timely and effective therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is not that unusual to find that Americans are unaware that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, and, like them, Puerto Ricans are U.S citizens enjoying the same liberties, freedoms, and rights. It may be less expected to face such incognizance or ignorance within the medical community as careers in medicine offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to serve patients spanning race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and other demographic differences. Unfortunately, some of the personal experiences of the primary author have prompted us to cull four personal narratives of Puerto Rican individuals (Boricuas), who comprise 20.8% of the Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish Origin applicants to U.S. medical schools, during various early stages of a medical career. Of course, these personal anecdotes, offered in response to just a few general questions about recent experiences of bias in medical applications or in early training, do not indicate pervasive bias. Similarly, these instances may be more common than people in the medical community would prefer to believe. In the brief narratives that follow, Boricuas at different junctures in their medical educations highlight the bias that they have faced and their reactions to it. We present this information with the hope of promoting awareness of potential biases at different stages of medical education. • Only 5.8% of physicians and 3.2% of medical school faculty in the U.S. were of Hispanic origin as of 2018. • We present four narratives of Puerto Rican individuals who faced bias during various early stages of their medical careers. • Puerto Rican medical student and residents should receive equal opportunities and not be treated as second-class citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy Islands: Metaphors of Power, Extractivism, and Justice in Puerto Rico: Catalina M. de Onís. Ultimately, de Onís not only reveals how energy discourses have unfolded on the island, but also takes the crucial step of offering theoretical contributions for ongoing mobilizations toward decolonial, just, and equitable transformations of power in Puerto Rico. Finally, guided by the metaphor of "delinking", de Onís' "(No) Conclusion" wraps up I Energy Islands i with possible directions for energy justice in Puerto Rico (and potentially other colonized islands) through what she calls "the 4 I d i 's of energy justice" - decarbonizing, decentralizing, democratizing, and decolonizing (152). [Extracted from the article]

Urban-dwelling childbearing Puerto Rican women and families on the U.S. mainland face a myriad of social determinants that affect pregnancy and overall health outcomes. Historically, Puerto Ricans have poorest pregnancy outcomes of all Hispanic women. Acknowledgment of the cyclic, structural barriers faced by this patient population is essential to providing wholistic care. Here, we discuss family nursing implications derived from narrative analysis of a parent study that investigated ecological systems affecting 21 pregnant Puerto Rican women residing in an impoverished and crime-ridden neighborhood in Philadelphia. Content analysis of interviews revealed interwoven social determinants of health embedded in participant narratives. Furthermore, we present case vignettes based on integration of participant interviews that encapsulate the everyday experiences of these women and their families and provide clinicians with guidance and strategies for interacting with and advocating for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Higher Mediterranean diet (MeD) adherence has been linked with lower depressive symptomatology, but research examining this association is limited, especially among Latinos, including mainland U.S. Puerto Ricans. Hence, we examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between MeD adherence and self-reported depressive symptomatology in Boston area Puerto Rican adults. Methods The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms. Adherence to MeD was assessed at all 3 visits. We used multivariable linear regression for baseline cross-sectional analysis, and linear mixed effects modeling over 3 waves of follow-up for longitudinal analysis. We also assessed whether baseline MeD adherence affected 5y CES-D trajectory. We conducted sensitivity analyses among participants without diabetes, and among participants with complete MeD and CES-D measures at all visits. Results MeD adherence was significantly associated with CES-D score at baseline (β = −2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] −4.0, −0.04 for highest vs lowest tertile, p trend =.04) and across 3 waves (β = −1.9, 95% CI = −3.0, −0.8 for highest vs lowest tertile, p trend =.0005). Results were similar in analyses restricted to participants without diabetes, as well as among participants with complete CES-D and MeD scores at all visits. Conclusions While CES-D score was consistently lower in those with higher MeD adherence over 5 years of follow up, no relationship between baseline MeD adherence and 5y CES-D trajectory was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frailty is associated with adverse health outcomes and greater healthcare utilization. Less is known about the relationship between frailty and healthcare utilization in Puerto Rico, where high rates of chronic conditions and limited healthcare may put this group at a higher likelihood of using healthcare resources. This study examined the association between pre-frailty and frailty with healthcare utilization at baseline and 4-year follow-up among a cohort of community dwelling Puerto Ricans living on the island. We examined data from 3,040 Puerto Ricans (mean age 70.6 years) from The Puerto Rican Elderly: Health Conditions (PREHCO) study between 2002–2003 and 2006–2007. We used a modified version of the Fried criteria defined as 3 or more of the following: shrinking, weakness, poor energy, slowness, and low physical activity. Pre-frailty was defined as 1–2 components. The number of emergency room visits, hospital stays, and doctor visits within the last year were self-reported. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression models were used for ER visits and hospital stays. Negative binomial models were used for doctor visits. Pre-frailty was associated with a higher rate of doctor visits with a rate ratio of 1.11 (95% CI = 1.01–1.22) at baseline. Frailty was associated with a higher rate of ER visits (1.48, 95% CI = 1.13–1.95), hospital stays (1.69, 95% CI = 1.08–2.65), and doctor visits (1.24, 95% CI = 1.10–1.39) at baseline. Pre-frailty and frailty were not associated with any healthcare outcomes at follow-up. Pre-frailty and frailty are associated with an increased rate of healthcare services cross-sectionally among Puerto Rican adults, which may cause additional burdens on the already pressured healthcare infrastructure on the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Previous research on the association between education and older adult health in the U.S. has not included Puerto Rico. We investigated the effects of multigenerational educational attainment and chronic conditions among older Puerto Ricans residing on the archipelago's main island. Methods: Data were from the longitudinal Puerto Rican Elderly Health Conditions Project. Generalized Poisson regression models were used to examine if multigenerational educational attainment was associated with chronic disease. Results: Findings show that parental educational attainment was associated with fewer chronic conditions among females at baseline but not at follow-up, suggesting that the effects of parental education on health over time are less pronounced. For males, educational attainment across the three generations was not significantly associated with chronic disease at baseline or follow-up. Discussion: Multigenerational education is an important determinant of older adult health that continues to be relevant in Puerto Rico and the Latin American and Hispanic-Caribbean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the end of the 19th century, under the cloak of hygienic concerns, Puerto Rican elites have devised eugenic practices and methods in order to marginalize, manage, and control certain sectors of the population. Throughout the 20th century, these discourses have been internalized by the Puerto Rican population; reflections of which can be seen in popular culture, including trap and reggaetón. The purpose of this paper is to explore how hygienic practices (rooted in eugenic ideas) have permeated Puerto Rican society and, in turn, are replicated in trap and reggaetón as a way of gendering, racializing, and discriminating against certain groups. In an effort to identify these contemporary eugenic ideas, this article categorizes and analyzes current topics touched upon by trap and reggaetón singers such as Tego Calderón, Jowell y Randy, Anuel AA, and Bryant Myers, among others. Through categories such as desired body type, prospective partners' 'cleanliness'—in regard to 'feminine' and 'personal' hygiene—, potential contraceptive use, and the usage of racist stereotyping, we illustrate how eugenic ideas slip into contemporary understandings of gender and race in Puerto Rico. By performing an in-depth analysis of selected songs, we explore the ways in which ideas surrounding 'race science' have been normalized in Puerto Rican culture, demonstrating how these ideas connect to broader racializing and gendered processes. Desde finales del siglo XIX, bajo el manto de las preocupaciones higiénicas, las élites puertorriqueñas han ideado prácticas y métodos eugenésicos para marginar, administrar y controlar a ciertos sectores de la población. A lo largo del siglo XX, estos discursos han sido interiorizados por la población puertorriqueña; los cuales se pueden ver reflejados en la cultura popular, incluyendo el trap y el reggaetón. El propósito de este artículo es explorar cómo las prácticas higiénicas (enraizadas en ideas eugenésicas) han permeado la sociedad puertorriqueña y, a su vez, se replican en el trap y el reggaetón como una forma de generizar, racializar y discriminar a ciertos grupos. En un esfuerzo por identificar estas ideas eugenésicas contemporáneas, este artículo categoriza y analiza temas actuales abordados por cantantes de trap y reggaetón como Tego Calderón, Jowell y Randy, Anuel AA y Bryant Myers, entre otros. A través de categorías como el tipo de cuerpo deseado, la "limpieza" de las posibles parejas —en lo que respecta a la higiene "femenina" y "personal"—, el uso potencial de anticonceptivos y el uso de estereotipos racistas, ilustramos cómo las ideas eugenésicas se deslizan en la comprensión contemporánea del género y la raza en Puerto Rico. Al realizar un análisis en profundidad de canciones seleccionadas, exploramos las formas en que las ideas en torno a la "ciencia racial" se han normalizado en la cultura puertorriqueña, demostrando cómo estas ideas se conectan con procesos de género y racialización más amplios. Depuis la fin du XIXe siècle, sous le couvert de préoccupations hygiéniques, les élites portoricaines ont imaginé des pratiques et des méthodes eugéniques afin de marginaliser, gérer et contrôler certains secteurs de la population. Tout au long du XXe siècle, ces discours ont été intériorisés par la population portoricaine ; dont on peut voir des reflets dans la culture populaire, y compris le trap et le reggaetón. Le but de cet article est d'explorer comment les pratiques hygiéniques (enracinées dans les idées eugénistes) ont imprégné la société portoricaine et, à leur tour, sont reproduites dans le trap et le reggaetón comme un moyen de sexuer, de racialiser et de discriminer certains groupes. Dans un effort pour identifier ces idées eugénistes contemporaines, [End Page 78] cet article catégorise et analyse les sujets actuels abordés par les chanteurs de trap et de reggaetón tels que Tego Calderón, Jowell y Randy, Anuel AA et Bryant Myers, entre autres. À travers des catégories telles que le type de corps souhaité, la « propreté » des partenaires potentiels —en ce qui concerne l'hygiène « féminine » et « personnelle » —, l'utilisation potentielle de contraceptifs et l'utilisation de stéréotypes racistes, nous illustrons comment les idées eugéniques se glissent dans les compréhensions contemporaines du genre et de la race à Porto Rico. En effectuant une analyse approfondie de chansons sélectionnées, nous explorons la manière dont les idées entourant la « science raciale » ont été normalisées dans la culture portoricaine, démontrant comment ces idées se connectent à des processus plus larges de racialisation et de genre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the personal and work‐related stressors of healthcare workers in Puerto Rico and the organizational support they received during the pandemic. Design and Methods: We used a qualitative descriptive design and from April – November, 2021, conducted semi‐structured individual interviews with Puerto Rican frontline healthcare workers (n = 12) and supervisors (n = 5). Findings Thematic analysis revealed five major themes: (a) Organizations' response to COVID‐19; (b) increased complexity of patients; (c) intensified work and psychological demand for nurses; (d) overwhelmed and overworked; and (e) recommendations for healthcare leadership. Participants explained that their organizations' responses to COVID‐19 were insufficient for meeting the demands and acuity of the patients. Closure of outpatient services contributed to people presenting to hospitals with exacerbated chronic conditions – especially the elderly. With COVID‐19 precautions prohibiting family visitation, nurses became responsible for total care, including emotional support of patients. In addition, the shortage of staff contributed to nurses assuming greater workloads, feeling overwhelmed and overworked, and healthcare worker resignations. Given their experiences, healthcare workers recommended that healthcare leadership show more appreciation for staff, demonstrate empathy, include frontline workers in decision‐making, and provide mental health resources for staff. Conclusions: This study with Puerto Rican frontline workers and supervisors uncovers the multiple stressors experienced during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Our findings underscore the need for prioritizing the well‐being of healthcare workers, preparing healthcare leadership on how to support staff, and mandating nurse‐to‐patient ratios. Clinical Relevance: Healthcare workers explained the barriers they experienced for providing quality care to their patients. They also presented recommendations for healthcare leadership to facilitate supporting frontline workers, which ultimately contributes to optimal patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Children of Latinx adolescent mothers are at risk for regulatory difficulties. However, a paucity of research has examined parenting behaviors and children's early emotional development in such families. Design. Longitudinal associations between observed parenting behaviors (sensitivity, directiveness, child-directed language) at 18 months and children's emotion dysregulation at 18 and 24 months were tested among young mainland Puerto Rican mothers (N = 123) and their toddlers. Given the cultural variability present in Latinx families, whether mothers' cultural orientation moderated these associations was also tested. Results. Maternal sensitivity predicted less child emotion dysregulation at 24 months at all levels of cultural orientation. Directiveness was unrelated to dysregulation. Child-directed language predicted lower dysregulation only when mothers endorsed lower levels of American cultural orientation. Conclusions. It is important to consider families' cultural context when identifying maternal behaviors that are most beneficial to child development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how Puerto Ricans in Florida make sense of the immigration debate, how they formulate their position on the debate, and how their immigration attitudes impact their political choices. I draw on 75 in-depth interviews I conducted in Orlando, Florida during the 2016 presidential election. I find most respondents express supportive attitudes toward undocumented immigration, yet, how they articulate their position is telling. Specifically, respondents deploy mainstream narratives of immigrant deservingness/undeservingness; and a coalescing of Latino group consciousness, and in some instances a sense of connected political futures, influence their views. I also find Puerto Ricans' immigration views provide insight into their 2016 vote for president. This study contributes to immigration, race, and Latino scholarship by uncovering nuance and complexity of Latinos' contemporary politics. In doing so, it captures the emergence of a different strand of Latinidad and Latino politics in the largest swing state of the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on multiple years of ethnographic fieldwork alongside Puerto Rican Muslims in Puerto Rico and the United States, this article explores issues of identification and belonging among Puerto Rican converts to Islam, as expressed in their food practices. As "quadruple minorities"—Muslim among Puerto Ricans, Puerto Rican among Muslims, and both Puerto Rican and Muslim in the shadow of American empire—I suggest that Puerto Rican converts seek ways to restore a sense of coherence and selfhood through cooking, consuming, and forming community around food. For Puerto Rican Muslim converts, halāl consumption practices are about more than making their food, drink, or actions permissible; they are also about making their very identifications permissible, what one interlocutor called "Boricua halāl." This focus on religious actors' food practices showcases affective encounters with what we call religion in the everyday, showing matter's ability to reflect the quotidian complexity of late-modern lifeworlds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hispanics are important contributors to the self-employment sector. Their entrepreneurial activity varies by immigration status and ethnonational subgroup. We comparatively examine the self-employment of Hispanics who immigrated as adults, those who immigrated as children, and non-immigrants of four groups in the United States: Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Southern South Americans. We investigate intergenerational assimilation through self-employment into the three trajectories posited by segmented assimilation theory. We estimate regression models using a sample from the American Community Survey of Hispanics (n = 585,279) and US-born non-Hispanic Whites (n = 2,848,456). In a subsequent exploratory analysis, we estimate models for Hispanic origin and immigrant status groups to compare key predictors. We find that self-employment probabilities indicate distinct assimilation patterns for our origin groups. The exploratory analysis reveals different effects of important characteristics across groups. This work highlights the need for policies tailored toward the heterogeneity in Hispanics' assimilation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examine whether caregiver depressive symptoms at baseline predict longitudinal child asthma outcomes in the two populations with the largest asthma disparities: Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. Two hundred and sixty-seven Hispanic caregiver–child dyads (Mexican = 188, Puerto Rican = 79; children 5–12 years) were recruited from clinics and hospitals in Phoenix, AZ and the Bronx, NY. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale assessed caregiver depressive symptoms; higher scores indicate greater depressive symptomology. Medical records verified child asthma diagnosis. Assessments for outcome variables occurred at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12-month follow-ups. Pulmonary function was measured by spirometry, asthma control was measured by the Asthma Control Test, steroid bursts and acute healthcare utilization were assessed by caregiver report and medical records, and adherence was measured by doser devices on controller medications. Structural equation modeling analyzed baseline caregiver depressive symptoms as a predictor of longitudinal child asthma outcomes, and differences between subgroups. Higher caregiver depressive symptoms predicted better pulmonary function (β =.02, p =.001) in Mexican children, and fewer steroid bursts (β = −.41, p =.01) and better medication adherence (β =.02, p =.07) in Puerto Rican children. Caregiver depressive symptoms did not predict pediatric asthma control or acute healthcare utilization in either subgroup. Caregiver depressive symptomology had unexpected effects on child asthma outcomes. Results may be explained by the Hispanic paradox, caregiver resilience, acculturation, and the study's longitudinal nature. Further research is needed on social determinants of health that may influence differences in child asthma outcomes in heterogeneous Hispanic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the following study, displaced Puerto Rican mothers and I created and explored a learning space – culture circles – that engaged participants in a critical cycle of problem posing, dialogue, and problem solving in relation to their experiences in the receiving Pennsylvania community. Using a qualitative, ethnographic approach, the study drew from Critical Pedagogy (CP), raciolinguistics, and a Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) framework to inform data collection and analysis. Individual interviews, culture circle meeting recordings, field notes, and digital artefacts created by four focal participants help illustrate how these mothers navigate the US school system and the wider receiving community in southern Pennsylvania. Moreover, the data reflect how racism in this context is based predominantly on families' language practices. Despite mothers facing significant challenges due to race/ethnicity, language, class, and gender, this study highlights the conversations that displaced Puerto Rican mothers engaged in regarding the impact racism had in their everyday lives. Furthermore, the space we created allowed participants to share and model their accumulated linguistic, social, and resistant capital for their children's academic success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is strongly associated with chronic disease; yet, the direction of this relationship is poorly understood. Allostatic load (AL) provides a framework for elucidating depression-disease pathways. We aimed to investigate bidirectional, longitudinal associations of baseline depressive symptoms or AL with 5-year AL or depressive symptoms, respectively. Methods: Data were from baseline, 2-year, and 5-year visits of 620 adults (45–75 years) enrolled in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. The Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression (CES-D) scale (0–60) captured depressive symptoms, which were categorized at baseline as low (<8), subthreshold (8–15), or depression-likely (⩾16) symptoms. AL was calculated from 11 parameters of biological functioning, representing five physiological systems. Baseline AL scores were categorized by the number of dysregulated parameters: low (0–2), moderate (3–5), or high (⩾6) AL. Multivariable, multilevel random intercept and slope linear regression models were used to examine associations between 3-category baseline CES-D score and 5-year continuous AL score, and between baseline 3-category AL and 5-year continuous CES-D score. Results: Baseline subthreshold depressive symptoms [(mean (95% CI)): 4.8 (4.5–5.2)], but not depression-likely symptoms [4.5 (4.2–4.9)], was significantly associated with higher 5-year AL scores, compared to low depressive symptoms [4.3 (3.9–4.7)]. Baseline high AL [19.4 (17.6–21.2)], but not low AL [18.5 (16.5–20.6)], was significantly associated with higher 5-year CES-D score, compared to baseline moderate AL [16.9 (15.3–18.5)]. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms and AL had a bi-directional relationship over time, indicating a nuanced pathway linking depression with chronic diseases among a minority population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the association between post-traumatic stress and depression and whether such an association differs by level of loneliness among older Puerto Ricans. Methods: Data were collected from 304 Puerto Ricans aged 60 and above living in the Greater Boston area who responded to questionnaires. We used ordinary least squares regression to examine the association between post-traumatic stress, loneliness, and depressive symptoms. Results: Post-traumatic stress was significantly associated with higher levels of depression. The association between post-traumatic stress and depression was stronger for those experiencing a higher degree of loneliness. Discussion: In working with older Puerto Ricans experiencing post-traumatic stress, it is important for mental health professionals to incorporate the assessment of loneliness and to prevent and reduce comorbid depression by addressing loneliness through improving social skills, enhancing social support, and reducing maladaptive social cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the experiences of Puerto Rican college students who were living in the continental United States during and soon after the impact of Hurricane María. Using 14 semi-structured interviews, we look at the effects of interrupted communication and media access, and explore their perceptions of the coverage of the emergency by mainland American media. Our study shows that Puerto Rican college students use digital and analog technologies to maintain communication routines and media diets that connect them with their homeland. The interruption of these routines and the media coverage of the emergency impacted students' emotional well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mixed-methods paper describes the development and preliminary validation of the Behavioral Intentions Questionnaire (BIQ), a multi-scale questionnaire developed to assess determinants influencing Puerto Rican adolescents' intentions to engage in abusive behaviors in dating relationships. Items were developed qualitatively, and face and content validity were established by expert and target population judges via semi-structured interviews (n = 48), discussions, and four focus groups (n = 6 each). The questionnaire was pilot tested twice. An initial pilot test was conducted with students aged 13 to 17 from a private alternative education program in San Juan, Puerto Rico (n = 32). A second pilot test was conducted with a sample of students from the same site (n = 22), in addition to students in the same age range from a private school (n = 88) in San Juan. Confirmatory and Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine construct validity and Cronbach's coefficient alpha determined the subscales internal consistency reliability. Correlations between subscales were examined. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Qualitative data suggested the need to revise or eliminate items and instructions and incorporate a social desirability measure. Factor analyses yielded a unidimensional structure for each subscale and each subscale demonstrated high internal consistency. Preliminary analysis on the factor structure, internal reliability, and validity of the BIQ were encouraging. However, further psychometric testing is needed before this measure can be considered a useful tool for measuring intentions to engage in abusive behaviors in dating relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study describes the perceived work demands and family caregiving obligations associated with work–family life among URM faculty and the coping strategies used to negotiate the integration of roles. Background: Past research on families focuses primarily on professional majority‐culture families and often fails to include traditionally and historically underrepresented minority (URM) families. The study of how URM professionals negotiate work and family obligations and economic and institutional constraints remains relatively absent in the family science discourse. Method: In‐depth individual and group interviews (N = 58) were conducted with US‐born African American, Mexican American, and Puerto Rican faculty at research universities. Results: The overarching theorizing anchor that grounded the themes was sacrifice. Three themes emerged: excessive work demands/role strain; commitments and caregiving obligations to family of origin and nuclear family; and few coping strategies and resources to maintain a balanced life. Conclusion: This analysis offers insight into the multiple factors that affect the experiences of URM academics in their workplaces that deeply influence work roles and self‐care and its impact on family roles. These data fill a gap by applying alternative frameworks to explore the work–family nexus among racialized groups. Implications: New research frontiers are offered to study the work–family nexus for URM faculty and how higher education can respond to alleviate excessive work demands and work–family life conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carla Della Gatta's book, "Latinx Shakespeares: Staging U.S. Intracultural Theater," explores the practice of Latinizing Shakespeare in American theater. The book examines how Latinx identities are affirmed in U.S. theater through the Latinization process, which allows for immediate identification and recognition of Shakespeare's characters in Latinx communities. Della Gatta also discusses the influence of the musical "West Side Story" in creating space for Latinx presence in Shakespeare adaptations, as well as the use of language, accents, and diverse cultural influences in Latinx Shakespeare productions. The book concludes by showcasing a unique adaptation of Henry IV, Part 1 that reimagines Latinx cultures in both the past and future. [Extracted from the article]