TABLE 3.
β-Coefficients and SEs for associations between 3 different acculturation constructs and diet quality indexes or pattern scores for Puerto Rican adults living in Boston, MA1
| Language-based scale | Psychological-based scale | Years living in the mainland United States | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diet score | β ± SE | P | β ± SE | P | β ± SE | P |
| AHEI2 | 0.002 ± 0.013 | 0.90 | 0.114 ± 0.037 | 0.002 | −0.005 ± 0.021 | 0.82 |
| z Scores | 0.004 ± 0.033 | 0.088 ± 0.029 | −0.006 ± 0.029 | |||
| MeDS3 | 0.0008 ± 0.003 | 0.75 | 0.015 ± 0.007 | 0.041 | 0.008 ± 0.004 | 0.05 |
| z Scores | 0.011 ± 0.034 | 0.063 ± 0.031 | 0.059 ± 0.031 | |||
| Traditional pattern | −0.007 ± 0.001 | <0.0001 | −0.014 ± 0.004 | 0.001 | −0.005 ± 0.002 | 0.041 |
| z Scores | −0.160 ± 0.032 | −0.097 ± 0.028 | −0.058 ± 0.028 | |||
| Western pattern | 0.0005 ± 0.001 | 0.71 | −0.007 ± 0.004 | 0.06 | 0.002 ± 0.002 | 0.28 |
| z Scores | 0.011 ± 0.029 | −0.048 ± 0.026 | 0.028 ± 0.026 | |||
| Sweets and desserts pattern | −0.003 ± 0.001 | 0.05 | −0.005 ± 0.004 | 0.20 | 0.002 ± 0.002 | 0.30 |
| z Scores | −0.061 ± 0.031 | −0.035 ± 0.028 | 0.029 ± 0.028 | |||
1Values are β-coefficients ± SEs presented for original scores, with the same models shown below using the z scores for direct comparison of the β-coefficients. Adjusted for age, sex, income, smoking status, education, physical activity, frequency of eating out, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program receipt, and energy intake (except for MeDS, which is already energy-adjusted). Overall sample size was 1194 (for MeDS), 1337 (for AHEI), and 1380 (for dietary patterns). AHEI, Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010; MeDS, Mediterranean Diet Score.
2The AHEI score was defined as a measure of overall diet quality based on 11 components with predefined recommended intakes and with overall scores ranging from 0 to 110, with higher scores indicative of better diet quality.
3The MeDS was defined as a measure of overall diet quality relative to the Mediterranean diet, based on population median intake of whole cereals, nuts/legumes, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, fish, meat, sodium, and alcohol. Overall scores range from 0 to 9, with high scores indicative of higher compliance with the Mediterranean diet.