The concept of acculturation in epidemiological research among migrant populations: A systematic review. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schumann, Maria; Bug, Marleen; Kajikhina, Katja; Koschollek, Carmen; Bartig, Susanne; Lampert, Thomas; Santos-Hövener, Claudia
• Is Part Of: SSM - population health. Volume 10(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100539
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-8273

Abstract

Highlights: Acculturation is a widely used concept in epidemiological research. There are various ways to measure acculturation using proxies or scales; often an acculturation score is calculated. Studies often show inconsistencies in operationalization and measurement of the concept of acculturation. The exact outcome is often unclear; this creates a lack of comparability, generalizability and transferability of the results. Health relevant proxies such as language skills or feeling of belonging should be measured without calculating a score.