Karen Kobayashi - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Karen Kobayashi
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De récentes études ont démontré qu'il existait au Canada un « effet de l’immigrant en bonne ... more De récentes études ont démontré qu'il existait au Canada un « effet de l’immigrant en bonne santé » — les immigrants
Recent studies have established that a "healthy immigrant effect" operates in Canada --... more Recent studies have established that a "healthy immigrant effect" operates in Canada -- immigrants are generally healthier than Canadian-born persons -- but that this effect tends to diminish over time, as the health of immigrants converges to the Canadian norm. Although this effect has been examined by place of birth, language, marital status, socio-economic status, charter language ability, and category of immigrant status in Canada, less is known about the "healthy immigrant effect" at different stages of the life course, particularly in mid- to later adulthood, stages at which there is an increased likelihood of decline in physical and mental health status. This study examines how age at immigration affects the health of mid- to later life immigrants, compared to Canadian-born persons, using data from the 2000-01 Canadian Community Health Survey. These data indicate that the "healthy immigrant effect" applies to later mid-life immigrants; that is, n...
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2021
This study aimed to address knowledge gaps about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in mid-age... more This study aimed to address knowledge gaps about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in mid-age and older adults, with particular attention to the relationship of PTSD with nutrition and with ethnicity and immigrant status. Binary logistic regression analysis of weighted comprehensive cohort data from the baseline Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA; n = 27,211) was conducted using the four-item Primary Care-PTSD tool (outcome) and immigrant status by ethnicity (Canadian-born white, Canadian-born minority, immigrant white, immigrant minority). Covariates included various social, economic, nutrition and health-related variables. After controlling for socioeconomic and health variables, immigrants from minority groups had significantly higher odds of PTSD compared to their Canadian-born counterparts, whereas white immigrants had lower odds of PTSD. These relationships were significantly robust across seven cluster-based regression models. After adjusting for ethnicity/immigra...
This study examines the incidence and duration of women's life course events, specifically ch... more This study examines the incidence and duration of women's life course events, specifically childbearing, by generational age structure within the family, birth cohort, educational status, and place of birth. Data from the 1995 General Social Survey (GSS) of Canada is used to estimate the incidence and socio-demographic correlates of age-structured families - age-condensed, normative, and age-gapped according to the mother's age at the birth of her first child. The results indicate that less than 10% of women with at least two children (N = 1,800) experience entrance into motherhood as a late life course event (e.g., at 30 years of age or older) as opposed to an early or "on-time" transition. Further, the mean birth interval is longer and family size is larger for age-condensed mothers versus normative and age-gapped mothers. Cohort differences regarding the incidence and duration of family life course events are also notable: older cohorts of women (1915-1930 and 1...
Objective: This study examined the interrelations between Chinese and Canadian identity developme... more Objective: This study examined the interrelations between Chinese and Canadian identity development during adolescence over an 18-month period using an individual-in-context perspective. We simultaneously considered the roles of youths' cultural behavior practices and their gender for predicting identity processes. We also examined whether practicing heritage cultural behaviors interferes with or is unrelated to national identity development and vice versa. Method: Adolescents with Chinese backgrounds (N = 152, 52% female; Mage = 14.95 years at Wave 1; SD = 1.70) were recruited from either a large metropolitan or midsized city in Canada. All parents were foreign-born, as were 80.2% of the adolescents. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses suggested that males and females reported a mostly stable sense of cultural identity and similar patterns of interrelation among identity belonging and exploration. There were two exceptions: Males did not report stability in Chinese identity b...
Using data from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, the current study expands on previous ... more Using data from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, the current study expands on previous research on the healthy immigrant effect (HIE) in adult populations by considering the effects of both immigrant and visible minority status on health for males and females in mid- (45- 64) and later life (65+). The findings indicate that the HIE applies to recent immigrant men in midlife; that is, new male immigrants – those who immigrated less than 10 years ago – have better health compared to their Canadian-born counterparts, and that the effect is particularly strong for visible minorities. The picture is similar for older women who have recently immigrated, however this advantage largely disappears when a number of socio-demographic, socio-economic, and lifestyle factors are controlled. For older men and middle-aged women of color, however, the reality is strikingly different: both groups report health disadvantages compared to their Canadian-born counterparts, with both recent and ...
This study examines ethnic based differences in economic and health status. We combine existing l... more This study examines ethnic based differences in economic and health status. We combine existing literature with our analysis of data from the Canadian Census and National Population Health Survey. If a given sub-topic is well researched, we summarize the findings; if, on the other hand, less is known, we present data placing them in the context of whatever literature does exist. Our findings are consistent with existing literature on ethnic inequalities in Canada. Recent immigrants with a mother tongue other than English or French are among the most economically disadvantaged in Canadian society, though the results vary depending on gender and ethnic background. In fact economic inequality according to type of occupation can be attributed to gender rather than ethnicity; that is, the Canadian labour force continues to be more gender- than ethnically-differentiated. Yet recent immigrants, especially from Asia, are advantaged in health outcomes compared to Canadian-born persons – the ...
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
Purpose Canada’s visible minority population is increasing rapidly, yet despite the demographic s... more Purpose Canada’s visible minority population is increasing rapidly, yet despite the demographic significance of this population, there is a surprising dearth of nationally representative health data on visible minorities. This is a major challenge to undertaking research on the health of this group, particularly in the context of investigating racial/ethnic disparities and health disadvantages that are rooted in racialization. The purpose of this paper is to summarize: mortality and morbidity patterns for visible minorities; determinants of visible minority health; health status and determinants of the health of visible minority older adults (VMOA); and promising data sources that may be used to examine visible minority health in future research. Design/methodology/approach A scoping review of 99 studies or publications published between 1978 and 2014 (abstracts of 72 and full articles of 27) was conducted to summarize data and research findings on visible minority health to answer ...
Knowledge, innovation, and impact in health: A guide for the engaged researcher, 2019
Gontcharov, I., Kobayashi, K., Grenier, A. (2019* [accepted February 27, 2019]). Knowledge mobili... more Gontcharov, I., Kobayashi, K., Grenier, A. (2019* [accepted February 27, 2019]). Knowledge mobilization for an engaged researcher. In Sixsmith, A., Sixsmith, J., Mihailidis, A., Lan Fang, M. (Eds)., Knowledge, innovation, and impact in health: A guide for the engaged researcher. Springer.
Requests for further information may be addressed to:
This study examines health differences between first-generation immigrant and Canadian-born perso... more This study examines health differences between first-generation immigrant and Canadian-born persons who share the same the ethnocultural origin, and the extent to which such differences reflect social structural and health-related behavioural contexts. Data from the 2000/2001 Canadian Community Health Survey show that first generation immigrants of Black and French race/ethnicity tend to have better health than their Canadian-born counterparts, while the opposite is true for those of South Asian, Chinese, and south and east European and Jewish origins. West Asians and Arabs and other Asian groups are advantaged in health regardless of country of birth. Health differences between ethnic foreign- and Canadian-born persons generally converge after adjusting for socio-demographic, SES, and lifestyle factors. Implications for health care policy and program development are discussed.
International Perspectives on Social Policy, Administration, and Practice
The Journals of Gerontology: Series B
Objectives We drew on fundamental cause theory and the weathering hypothesis to examine how discr... more Objectives We drew on fundamental cause theory and the weathering hypothesis to examine how discrimination influences aging for midlife and older adults in Canada. Methods Using nationally representative data, we assessed the associations between discrimination and pain and functional limitations among adults aged 45 years and older. Discrimination was measured using a modified version of the Everyday Discrimination Scale. Chi-square tests were performed to check for baseline differences in the dependent and key predictor variables by race. Logistic regression was used to estimate the associations of discrimination, race, and sense of belonging with pain and functional limitations, net of sociodemographic characteristics, and socioeconomic status. Results Indigenous respondents showed a clear health disadvantage, with higher rates of pain and functional limitations compared to Whites and Asians. Self-reported discrimination was also higher for Indigenous midlife and older adults tha...
International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Psychological distress is associated with a range of negative outcomes including lower quality of... more Psychological distress is associated with a range of negative outcomes including lower quality of life and an increased risk of premature all-cause mortality. The prevalence of, and factors associated with, psychological distress among middle-aged and older Canadians are understudied. Using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) baseline data, this study examined factors associated with psychological distress among adults between 45 and 85 years, including refugee status and a wide range of sociodemographic, health-related and social support characteristics. Psychological distress was measured by Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scale-K10 scores. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. The prevalence of psychological distress was significantly higher among the 244 refugees (23.8%), compared to 23,149 Canadian-born Canadians (12.8%) and 4,765 non-refugee immigrants (12.6%), despite the fact that the average time the refugees had lived ...
Current Developments in Nutrition
Objectives To examine associations between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and nutrition fa... more Objectives To examine associations between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and nutrition factors among Canadian-born and immigrant adults. Methods The sample included participants of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) (n = 27,211; 45–85 years) categorized by ethnicity (native white, native minority, immigrant white, and immigrant minority). PTSD was measured using the Primary Care PTSD tool. Nutrition factors included nutrition status indicators (anthropometrics, body fat %, handgrip strength, nutrition risk, sarcopenia, bone mineral density, and iron deficiency anemia) and dietary intakes (fiber, pulses and nuts, fat, omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and vegetables, fruit juice, calcium/vitamin D, salty snacks, pastries, and chocolate bars). Covariates included socioeconomic and health-related variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results Compared to white Canadians born in Canada, immigrant minority groups had a higher likelihood of PTSD (OR =...
Journal of Community Practice
Requests for further information may be addressed to:
De récentes études ont démontré qu'il existait au Canada un « effet de l’immigrant en bonne ... more De récentes études ont démontré qu'il existait au Canada un « effet de l’immigrant en bonne santé » — les immigrants
Recent studies have established that a "healthy immigrant effect" operates in Canada --... more Recent studies have established that a "healthy immigrant effect" operates in Canada -- immigrants are generally healthier than Canadian-born persons -- but that this effect tends to diminish over time, as the health of immigrants converges to the Canadian norm. Although this effect has been examined by place of birth, language, marital status, socio-economic status, charter language ability, and category of immigrant status in Canada, less is known about the "healthy immigrant effect" at different stages of the life course, particularly in mid- to later adulthood, stages at which there is an increased likelihood of decline in physical and mental health status. This study examines how age at immigration affects the health of mid- to later life immigrants, compared to Canadian-born persons, using data from the 2000-01 Canadian Community Health Survey. These data indicate that the "healthy immigrant effect" applies to later mid-life immigrants; that is, n...
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2021
This study aimed to address knowledge gaps about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in mid-age... more This study aimed to address knowledge gaps about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in mid-age and older adults, with particular attention to the relationship of PTSD with nutrition and with ethnicity and immigrant status. Binary logistic regression analysis of weighted comprehensive cohort data from the baseline Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA; n = 27,211) was conducted using the four-item Primary Care-PTSD tool (outcome) and immigrant status by ethnicity (Canadian-born white, Canadian-born minority, immigrant white, immigrant minority). Covariates included various social, economic, nutrition and health-related variables. After controlling for socioeconomic and health variables, immigrants from minority groups had significantly higher odds of PTSD compared to their Canadian-born counterparts, whereas white immigrants had lower odds of PTSD. These relationships were significantly robust across seven cluster-based regression models. After adjusting for ethnicity/immigra...
This study examines the incidence and duration of women's life course events, specifically ch... more This study examines the incidence and duration of women's life course events, specifically childbearing, by generational age structure within the family, birth cohort, educational status, and place of birth. Data from the 1995 General Social Survey (GSS) of Canada is used to estimate the incidence and socio-demographic correlates of age-structured families - age-condensed, normative, and age-gapped according to the mother's age at the birth of her first child. The results indicate that less than 10% of women with at least two children (N = 1,800) experience entrance into motherhood as a late life course event (e.g., at 30 years of age or older) as opposed to an early or "on-time" transition. Further, the mean birth interval is longer and family size is larger for age-condensed mothers versus normative and age-gapped mothers. Cohort differences regarding the incidence and duration of family life course events are also notable: older cohorts of women (1915-1930 and 1...
Objective: This study examined the interrelations between Chinese and Canadian identity developme... more Objective: This study examined the interrelations between Chinese and Canadian identity development during adolescence over an 18-month period using an individual-in-context perspective. We simultaneously considered the roles of youths' cultural behavior practices and their gender for predicting identity processes. We also examined whether practicing heritage cultural behaviors interferes with or is unrelated to national identity development and vice versa. Method: Adolescents with Chinese backgrounds (N = 152, 52% female; Mage = 14.95 years at Wave 1; SD = 1.70) were recruited from either a large metropolitan or midsized city in Canada. All parents were foreign-born, as were 80.2% of the adolescents. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses suggested that males and females reported a mostly stable sense of cultural identity and similar patterns of interrelation among identity belonging and exploration. There were two exceptions: Males did not report stability in Chinese identity b...
Using data from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, the current study expands on previous ... more Using data from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, the current study expands on previous research on the healthy immigrant effect (HIE) in adult populations by considering the effects of both immigrant and visible minority status on health for males and females in mid- (45- 64) and later life (65+). The findings indicate that the HIE applies to recent immigrant men in midlife; that is, new male immigrants – those who immigrated less than 10 years ago – have better health compared to their Canadian-born counterparts, and that the effect is particularly strong for visible minorities. The picture is similar for older women who have recently immigrated, however this advantage largely disappears when a number of socio-demographic, socio-economic, and lifestyle factors are controlled. For older men and middle-aged women of color, however, the reality is strikingly different: both groups report health disadvantages compared to their Canadian-born counterparts, with both recent and ...
This study examines ethnic based differences in economic and health status. We combine existing l... more This study examines ethnic based differences in economic and health status. We combine existing literature with our analysis of data from the Canadian Census and National Population Health Survey. If a given sub-topic is well researched, we summarize the findings; if, on the other hand, less is known, we present data placing them in the context of whatever literature does exist. Our findings are consistent with existing literature on ethnic inequalities in Canada. Recent immigrants with a mother tongue other than English or French are among the most economically disadvantaged in Canadian society, though the results vary depending on gender and ethnic background. In fact economic inequality according to type of occupation can be attributed to gender rather than ethnicity; that is, the Canadian labour force continues to be more gender- than ethnically-differentiated. Yet recent immigrants, especially from Asia, are advantaged in health outcomes compared to Canadian-born persons – the ...
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
Purpose Canada’s visible minority population is increasing rapidly, yet despite the demographic s... more Purpose Canada’s visible minority population is increasing rapidly, yet despite the demographic significance of this population, there is a surprising dearth of nationally representative health data on visible minorities. This is a major challenge to undertaking research on the health of this group, particularly in the context of investigating racial/ethnic disparities and health disadvantages that are rooted in racialization. The purpose of this paper is to summarize: mortality and morbidity patterns for visible minorities; determinants of visible minority health; health status and determinants of the health of visible minority older adults (VMOA); and promising data sources that may be used to examine visible minority health in future research. Design/methodology/approach A scoping review of 99 studies or publications published between 1978 and 2014 (abstracts of 72 and full articles of 27) was conducted to summarize data and research findings on visible minority health to answer ...
Knowledge, innovation, and impact in health: A guide for the engaged researcher, 2019
Gontcharov, I., Kobayashi, K., Grenier, A. (2019* [accepted February 27, 2019]). Knowledge mobili... more Gontcharov, I., Kobayashi, K., Grenier, A. (2019* [accepted February 27, 2019]). Knowledge mobilization for an engaged researcher. In Sixsmith, A., Sixsmith, J., Mihailidis, A., Lan Fang, M. (Eds)., Knowledge, innovation, and impact in health: A guide for the engaged researcher. Springer.
Requests for further information may be addressed to:
This study examines health differences between first-generation immigrant and Canadian-born perso... more This study examines health differences between first-generation immigrant and Canadian-born persons who share the same the ethnocultural origin, and the extent to which such differences reflect social structural and health-related behavioural contexts. Data from the 2000/2001 Canadian Community Health Survey show that first generation immigrants of Black and French race/ethnicity tend to have better health than their Canadian-born counterparts, while the opposite is true for those of South Asian, Chinese, and south and east European and Jewish origins. West Asians and Arabs and other Asian groups are advantaged in health regardless of country of birth. Health differences between ethnic foreign- and Canadian-born persons generally converge after adjusting for socio-demographic, SES, and lifestyle factors. Implications for health care policy and program development are discussed.
International Perspectives on Social Policy, Administration, and Practice
The Journals of Gerontology: Series B
Objectives We drew on fundamental cause theory and the weathering hypothesis to examine how discr... more Objectives We drew on fundamental cause theory and the weathering hypothesis to examine how discrimination influences aging for midlife and older adults in Canada. Methods Using nationally representative data, we assessed the associations between discrimination and pain and functional limitations among adults aged 45 years and older. Discrimination was measured using a modified version of the Everyday Discrimination Scale. Chi-square tests were performed to check for baseline differences in the dependent and key predictor variables by race. Logistic regression was used to estimate the associations of discrimination, race, and sense of belonging with pain and functional limitations, net of sociodemographic characteristics, and socioeconomic status. Results Indigenous respondents showed a clear health disadvantage, with higher rates of pain and functional limitations compared to Whites and Asians. Self-reported discrimination was also higher for Indigenous midlife and older adults tha...
International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Psychological distress is associated with a range of negative outcomes including lower quality of... more Psychological distress is associated with a range of negative outcomes including lower quality of life and an increased risk of premature all-cause mortality. The prevalence of, and factors associated with, psychological distress among middle-aged and older Canadians are understudied. Using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) baseline data, this study examined factors associated with psychological distress among adults between 45 and 85 years, including refugee status and a wide range of sociodemographic, health-related and social support characteristics. Psychological distress was measured by Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scale-K10 scores. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. The prevalence of psychological distress was significantly higher among the 244 refugees (23.8%), compared to 23,149 Canadian-born Canadians (12.8%) and 4,765 non-refugee immigrants (12.6%), despite the fact that the average time the refugees had lived ...
Current Developments in Nutrition
Objectives To examine associations between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and nutrition fa... more Objectives To examine associations between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and nutrition factors among Canadian-born and immigrant adults. Methods The sample included participants of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) (n = 27,211; 45–85 years) categorized by ethnicity (native white, native minority, immigrant white, and immigrant minority). PTSD was measured using the Primary Care PTSD tool. Nutrition factors included nutrition status indicators (anthropometrics, body fat %, handgrip strength, nutrition risk, sarcopenia, bone mineral density, and iron deficiency anemia) and dietary intakes (fiber, pulses and nuts, fat, omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and vegetables, fruit juice, calcium/vitamin D, salty snacks, pastries, and chocolate bars). Covariates included socioeconomic and health-related variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results Compared to white Canadians born in Canada, immigrant minority groups had a higher likelihood of PTSD (OR =...
Journal of Community Practice