The effect of age at first marriage on the incidence of labor complications and babies with low birth weight in Indonesia.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effect of a woman's age at first marriage (AFM) on the incidence of labor complications and babies with low birth weight (LBW). METHODS: This study used data from the 2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) on women aged 15-49 years who gave birth to their first child within the previous 5 years. Data analysis was conducted using binary logistic regression for labor complications and the binomial probit method for the incidence of LBW. RESULTS: The analysis showed that AFM affected the likelihood of childbirth complications and LBW babies. An increase in AFM tended to reduce the risk of childbirth complications, although poor economic conditions increased the risk of complications in mothers with a higher AFM. In addition, a low or high AFM increased the chances of delivering a baby with LBW. CONCLUSION: A low AFM was associated with an increased likelihood of women experiencing birth complications when delivering their first child and delivering babies with LBW, underscoring the importance of delaying childbirth until a more mature age.

Does ethnic identity buffer or intensify the stress of discrimination among the foreign born and U.S. born? Evidence from the Miami-Dade Health Survey.

This study examines the extent to which ethnic identity is a protective factor and buffers the stress of discrimination among the foreign born compared to the U.S. born in Miami-Dade County. Data were drawn from the 2011 Miami-Dade Health Survey (N = 444), which is a countywide probability sample of adults in South Florida. Two interaction effects were observed: (a) a stronger ethnic identity was associated with less distress among the foreign born than the U.S. born; and (b) a stronger ethnic identity exacerbated the relationship between everyday discrimination and distress among the U.S. born. Ethnic identity, which involves ethnic pride, participation in cultural practices, and cultural commitment or sense of belonging, was associated with better psychological well-being among the foreign born than the U.S. born. Ethnic identity, however, was not a protective factor for the U.S. born, but rather it intensified the distressing effect of discrimination.

It is not Black and White: Discrimination and distress in Hawai'i.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates whether the strength of the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological distress varies by race/ethnicity, gender, and the number of years of residence in Hawai'i. METHOD: Our sample consisted of 1,036 undergraduate students at a university in Hawai'i and the survey was conducted in 2012-2013. The sample was composed of 55% women and the average age was 21. The students reported their racial/ethnic backgrounds as White (19%), Japanese (21%), Filipino (16%), Chinese (10%), Native Hawaiian (14%), Pacific Islander (4%), other Asian (6%), and other race/ethnicity (10%). RESULTS: Interaction effect results revealed that Whites who had experienced everyday discrimination had higher levels of psychological distress than racial ethnic minorities. Women who had experienced everyday discrimination were more distressed than men and more distressed by a lower threshold level of discrimination. Furthermore, those who had lived in Hawai'i for a longer duration and experienced everyday discrimination were more distressed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings draw attention to how the psychological effects of discrimination vary by racial/ethnic group, gender, and location in the United States. The relationship between everyday discrimination and higher levels of psychological distress especially among those who have lived in Hawai'i longer, women, and Whites indicates that targeted medical and social interventions are needed to protect the mental health of college students. (PsycINFO Database Record

The Paradox of Discrimination, the "Aloha Spirit," and Symptoms of Depression in Hawai'i.

It remains to be determined whether the "aloha spirit" is a cultural resource that influences psychological well-being in Hawai'i. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether the aloha spirit is associated with levels of psychological distress and the risk of depression, while taking into account various risk factors. Data for this study were drawn from an anonymous survey of undergraduate students (N = 1,028) at the University of Hawai'i. Regression results revealed that having learned the aloha spirit was associated with significantly lower levels (b = -1.76; P < .01) of psychological distress and a reduced odds of depression (OR = .69; P < .01) over and above the effects of perceived discrimination, local identity, levels of ethnic identification, race/ethnicity, immigrant status, duration of residence in Hawai'i, and other sociodemographic factors. In contrast, everyday discrimination was associated with significantly higher levels (b = 0.41; P < .001) of psychological distress and a greater odds of depression (OR = 1.08; P < .001). Together, these findings highlight the paradox of discrimination and the aloha spirit in Hawai'i by documenting their distinct relationships with mental health. Overall, this study contributes to medical and public health research on mental health disparities during the transition to adulthood by delving into the social context of daily life in the understudied, multicultural location of Hawai'i.