Research Article Sociocultural and Socioeconomic Influences on Type 2 Diabetes Risk in Overweight/Obese African-American and Latino-American Children and Adolescents

Purpose. It is unclear whether sociocultural and socioeconomic factors are directly linked to type diabetes risk in overweight/obese ethnic minority children and adolescents. is study examines the relationships between sociocultural orientation, household social position, and type diabetes risk in overweight/obese African-American ( = 43) and Latino-American ( = 113) children and adolescents. Methods. Sociocultural orientation was assessed using the Acculturation, Habits, and Interests Multicultural Scale for Adolescents (AHIMSA) questionnaire. Household social position was calculated using the Hollingshead Two-Factor Index of Social Position. Insulin sensitivity (S I ), acute insulin response (AIR G ) and disposition index (DI) were derived from a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT). e relationships between AHIMSA subscales (i.e., integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization), household social position and FSIGT parameters were assessed using multiple linear regression. Results. For African-Americans, integration (integrating their family's culture with those of mainstream white-American culture) was positively associated with AIR G ( = 0.27 ± 0.09, = 0.48, < 0.01) and DI ( = 0.28 ± 0.09, = 0.55, < 0.01). For Latino-Americans, household social position was inversely associated with AIR G ( = −0.010 ± 0.004, = −0.19, = 0.02) and DI ( = −20.44 ± 7.50, = −0.27, < 0.01). Conclusions. Sociocultural orientation and household social position play distinct and opposing roles in shaping type diabetes risk in African-American and Latino-American children and adolescents