FIG. 1.

Diagram depicting the process by which maternal acculturation may affect child health via developmental programming. The observed sequelae of acculturation among Hispanic Americans are the same constructs known to participate in the processes of prenatal and postnatal developmental programming of disease risk. The conditions with enhanced incidence among second-generation Hispanic Americans are the same conditions known to be influenced by developmental programming. Adverse birth outcomes may themselves be acculturation sequelae or they may be associated with acculturation's prenatal correlates, e.g., prenatal stress.