| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Poster | | Title: Associations of acculturation with performance-based functional tasks in Spanish speakers along the U.S.-Mexico Border. | | Authors: Castellanos-Ponce V, Wang CX, Chentsova VO, Cherner M | | Date: 02-05-2026 | | Abstract:Objective:
Identifying functional deficits in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) is key to diagnosing the impact of cognitive impairment. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States, yet validated Spanish-language IADL measures remain limited. To ensure that a functional test is appropriate for Spanish speakers, cultural factors should not influence performance. We explored associations between acculturation and performance on a culturally adapted functional battery to determine its utility for use with native Spanish speakers in the United States.
Participants and Methods:
Participants were 64 Spanish-speaking adults [age=38.69(13.01), education=11.27(4.33), 62.5% female] evaluated in San Diego. A performance-based functional battery assessed basic finances, advanced finances, cooking, shopping, medication management, and restaurant ordering. Raw scores were converted into global and task-specific functional deficit scores (FDS). Participants completed the validated Hazuda Acculturation and Assimilation Scale (Cronbach's α>.8), which measures seven domains of acculturation: childhood language use, adult English proficiency, present language use, cultural preservation, traditional gender-role attitudes, childhood social group composition, and present social group composition. Bivariate associations of demographic variables with functional task scores and acculturation domains were examined. Multiple regression analyses investigated associations between acculturation and functional task performance, controlling for age, sex, and education.
Results:
Older age was associated with deficits in advanced finances (b=.02, β=.36, p=.004), shopping (b=.01, β=.21, p=.04), cooking (b=.02, β=.43, p<.01), and global FDS scores (b=.01, β=.45, p<.001). Education was associated with better performance in advanced finances (b=-.07, β=-.42, p=.001), basic finances (b=-.08, β=-.48, p<.001), medication management (b=-.05, β=-.33, p=.008), cooking (b=-.05, β=-.32, p=.009), and global FDS scores (b=-.05, β=-.58, p<.001). Older age was associated with worse English proficiency (b=-.02, β=-.28, p=.02), while male participants reported greater English use (b=.26, β=.28, p=.02). Higher education was associated with better English proficiency (b=.13, β=.61, p<.001), more English use (b=.11, β=.54, p<.001), and more diverse social interaction (b=.05, β=.27, p=.03). In the multiple regression model, less attachment to traditional gender-role attitudes was associated with better medication management (b=-.22, β=-.29, p=.02), while controlling for age, sex, and education. Additionally, higher social interaction with members outside one's own community was associated with worse medication management (b=.24, β=.29, p=.02) and worse global FDS (b=.11, β=.26, p=.02).
Conclusions:
In this sample of young to middle-aged adults, total acculturation score had little impact on culturally adapted laboratory tasks of everyday functioning. The medication management task may be more sensitive to the effect of acculturation, though findings were inconsistent. Interestingly, higher acculturation in present social group composition was associated with worse medication management and global functioning, which may correspond to cultural emphasis on familial and community-based social support. Age and education had significant effects on various performance-based functional tasks and global functioning. Overall, the adapted performance-based functional battery was resistant to the effects of acculturation and is recommended for assessing declines in IADLs among Spanish speakers from the U.S.-Mexico border region. However, interpretation should account for demographic effects. |
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