The Role of Language Use in Reports of Musculoskeletal Pain Among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Adolescents. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zamora-Kapoor, Anna; Omidpanah, Adam; Monico, Evelyn; Buchwald, Dedra; Harris, Raymond; Jimenez, Nathalia
• Is Part Of: Journal of transcultural nursing. Volume 28:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 144
• Page End: 151
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: musculoskeletal pain -- risk factors -- Hispanic -- non-Hispanic White -- adolescent -- language use; Transcultural nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; Health attitudes -- Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1177/1043659615623326
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-6596

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the role of English language use in the reported frequency of musculoskeletal pain among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White youth.Method: This is a secondary data analysis using a cross-sectional sample of 12, 189 Hispanic and non-Hispanic White adolescents recruited for the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Respondents were classified into three groups: (a) English-speaking non-Hispanic Whites, (b) English-speaking Hispanics, and (c) Spanish-speaking Hispanics.Results: After controlling for body mass index and demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral variables, Spanish-speaking Hispanics reported the least frequent musculoskeletal pain ( OR = 0.415, 95% CI [0.361, 0.477]; p < .001), followed by English-speaking Hispanics ( OR = 0.773, 95% CI [0.690, 0.865]; p < .001).Conclusion: The experience of musculoskeletal pain is a physiological as well as a cultural phenomenon.Implications for Practice: Health care providers should consider the role of language use in reports of pain in Hispanic and non-Hispanic White adolescents.